Professor Ghillar Michael Anderson is an astronomer, activist and knowledge holder, who was central in the setting up of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra in 1972. He is a Senior Law Man, Elder, and leader of the Eualeyai Nation from Goodooga, New South Wales.
Last week, Mr Anderson attended the Frontier Wars movement 13th annual Anzac Day wreath laying service on the grounds of the Australian War Memorial. The service honoured the thousands of lives lost during the Frontier Wars. Jess Whaler interviewed him for National Indigenous Times.
The article refers to estimates of deaths in the Frontier Wars, the documentation of frontier massacres, and survivor accounts. 'Some historians', the article reminds readers, 'have estimated more Indigenous people were killed during the Frontier Wars than Australian soldiers lost their lives in the First World War, but there is no formal national day of recognition of these deaths, and less is documented about the extent of the impact due to poor record keeping, combined with efforts in many cases to conceal the truth'.
Mr Anderson told National Indigenous Times that supporters of the Frontier Wars movement will continue to march and make their presence felt to remind the general public that this is something that has been overlooked for too long.
Some massacres were perpetrated by landowners. 'That was not a program of genocide protected by governments, that was a private citizen. And there are many instances around country where a private citizen killed Aboriginal people, murdered them and so it all amounts to murder', Mr Anderson said.
'There has always been this war on, and ours has been a war of resistance ... Our people were resisting so there's this massive need to acknowledge that our people had a right to resist ... People need to understand that this was wrong and that people have a right to protect themselves. The fact is that people suffered and died defending their right to roam their land, to live on their land and be who they are.'
Update 3 May 2024: Mr Anderson has agreed to become a Supporter of Defending Country.
More from
General
category
