Being a Genuine Ally to First Nations Peoples

“If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”

(Aboriginal activists group, Queensland, 1970s)

Being a genuine ally is not about charity or generosity – it’s about being aware of inequality and racism, calling it out, and standing shoulder to shoulder with those who are affected.

As Summer May Finlay, a Yorta Yorta woman, academic, writer and a public health consultant, says:

“We need good allies. We are only three per cent of the Australian population. We can’t raise the profile of issues affecting us without our allies.”

Educate Ourselves

One of the first steps we can take to be better allies to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples is to educate ourselves — but that’s not where it ends. “It absolutely requires people to take a step back and reflect on the everyday power and privilege, the opportunities and resources that are readily available to them, because they happen to be a non-Indigenous person living in this country,” explains Dr Clinton Schultz, Gamilaroi/Gomeroi man, registered psychologist, and Director of First Nations Partnership and Strategy at the Black Dog Institute.

“Then, consider: ‘What am I willing to do with those in the effort to walk with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in a more positive direction?’ That’s the work that needs to be done by non-Indigenous people that we can not do as First Nations Peoples.”

Knowing Australia’s true history and being culturally aware is vital. The issues the First Nations communities face come from hundreds of years of ongoing trauma and discrimination. It is not the responsibility of the First Nations community to educate you. At the end of this article is a non-exhaustive list of resources and organisations to visit to start, or continue, your learning journey in a culturally sensitive way.

Be Okay With Not Always Being Part of the Conversation

At times yarns may be off-limits to non-Aboriginal people for many reasons. Be okay with not being included in everything and accept many decisions must be made by First Nations Peoples. Don’t question the outcome of these conversations.

Example: Support the Uluru Statement, not just the parts you like.

Listen to First Nations Peoples and Amplify Their Voices

Listen to and believe what First Nations Peoples say as it is their lived experience. No two experiences are the same. Unless you have experienced the negative effects of racism and inequality it is very hard to understand the experiences of those who have. Allies listen to these truths and stories without being defensive or judgemental, and practice active anti-racism as a means to address the underlying institutional and systemic barriers that contribute to inequality and disadvantage in our society.

Step to the side and amplify their voices where possible. Champion First Nations voices rather than your own, and share and acknowledge their work rather than replicating it.

Be there for the Good Times and the Bad

A good ally will stand with First Nations Peoples at all times, not just when it is easy. For example, support the First Nations art industry and community programs as well as advocating for the implementation of the Royal Commission Into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody recommendations.

Speak Up When We Hear Someone Say Something Inappropriate

Whenever you hear someone say something that reinforces negative racial stereotypes or is dismissive of First Nations Peoples and culture, it’s important to speak up.

If you feel uncomfortable voicing your objection to racist comments on your own, share what you heard with your fellow allies and ask them to support you.

As an ally, you will have to be brave. For example: You are at a friend’s house and one of your friends makes an ‘Aboriginal joke’. Pull them up on the joke. It’s not an easy thing to do, especially when it’s a friend or family member.

Racism. It Stops With Me is a national campaign that provides tools and resources to help us and our organisations learn about racism and take action to create change. It’s a good source of support for those tough conversations.

Once you learn to take a stand, that uncomfortable feeling you get will start to go away over time and you’ll become a much stronger ally.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of resources and organisations to visit to start, or continue, your learning journey in a culturally sensitive way

OPINION: How to be a good Indigenous ally. https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/how-to-be-a-good-indigenous-ally/7czmek946

2. How To Show Up As An Ally For First Nations People, Today & Every Day https://www.refinery29.com/en-au/all-resources-aboriginal-peoples

3. OPINION: How to be a good Indigenous ally. https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/how-to-be-a-good-indigenous-ally/7czmek946