Moving Forward Together in Aboriginal Women's Health: - Theses ...

Moving Forward TogetherJanet KellyI think some of them are into it (culture). They speak it, know the storiesand get involved. Others have been burnt by it and don’t want a bar of it.It is funny; I have noticed that the dark Aboriginal kids who can be easilyidentified as Aboriginal take it for granted. It is the lighter Aboriginalkids who tend to fight more for their Aboriginality. I wonder if it is abouttheir own culture’s acceptance of them (HS I4).This perception added another aspect to those discussed by the AEW aboutAboriginal young people identifying or not as Aboriginal.The needs of young Aboriginal women who are profoundly deafOne of the teachers who worked with profoundly deaf Aboriginal studentsspoke of her realisation that many of these Aboriginal students were moreconnected with other deaf students than with their own cultural group becausethey had not been able to communicate with hearing people. She explained thatwhen she took one young woman to some community events, it changed herunderstanding and connection and now she often goes to community events.This young Aboriginal woman’s grandmother had come and asked her to helpher grand daughter to reconnect with their culture. When I asked what she didto support this process she said that she promoted the event to the youngwoman, offered to go with her as a supportive adult and helped her to becomeinvolved.The teacher went on to say;Taking the young Aboriginal woman to events opened it up to the rest ofthe deaf community as well. Now it is an annual event and the wholecentre for hearing impaired go to events like Sorry Day as part of theircurriculum. Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal kids together and this hasbeen really good; it has led to greater support and celebration ofAboriginal culture (HS I5).She also saw this linking with the broader emphasis on breaking down barriersby including non-Aboriginal students in Aboriginal events.In discussing the importance of culture this teacher said that she saw that whenstudents were supported in being proud of their culture, and to share and273