theguardian.com
Cherbourg's Independent Truth-Telling Inquiry
The Cherbourg community in Queensland takes matters into their own hands, organizing an independent inquiry to uncover truths about colonization after the government shuts down the official one.
English
United Kingdom
Human Rights ViolationsHealthGender IssuesAustraliaIndigenous RightsSocial JusticeColonizationCommunity Activism
Queensland GovernmentCherbourg SchoolRation Shed MuseumCatholic ChurchCherbourg Us Mob Radio
Frank MaloneEric LawBruce SimpsonJoshua CreamerFred Cobbo
- What were the experiences of the Cherbourg elders under the Aboriginal Protection Act?
- Frank Malone and other Cherbourg elders experienced restricted lives under the Aboriginal Protection Act, lacking freedoms and facing systemic injustices like limited economic opportunities and control over their lives.
- What is the significance of the truth-telling inquiry for the Cherbourg community and its people?
- Christina Collier-Bond highlights the importance of the truth-telling inquiry in providing safe spaces to share difficult stories about stolen children, wages, and languages, stories which impact individuals and ripple through generations.
- What are the varying perspectives of the Cherbourg elders on their childhoods and experiences in Cherbourg?
- While some elders, like Eric Law, cherish positive memories of community and family despite hardships, others, such as Fred Cobbo, describe their childhood as marked by hatred and a lack of freedom due to the systemic injustices imposed by the government.
- How did the Cherbourg community respond to the Queensland government's shutdown of the truth-telling inquiry?
- The Queensland government's shutdown of the truth-telling inquiry prompted the Cherbourg community to organize their own independent inquiry to document the impacts of colonization on their community.
- What are some of the key memories and experiences shared by the Cherbourg elders regarding their lives under the Act?
- Elders like Eric Law recall the immense power held by the superintendent under the Act, controlling aspects of their lives from food rations to family decisions, while others like Fred Cobbo recount experiences of hatred and suppression of their language and culture.