(156)
Pre-existing knowledge has position me to better understand the issues discussed in the chosen articles. Being educated in an international high school in Japan has taught students to view and critique through contemporary avenues. This had enhanced my knowledge on the Ainu Indigenous peoples of Japan. Reflecting on Article #1, I attained knowledge on how the majority portrays the Ainu Indigenous people low status as they have unclean blood, no rights and possess no voice especially in political matters and resources.
Growing up in Japan, there exists a similar suppression of atrocities as Article #2, that was committed by the Japanese army in China and Korea during World War II. These are documented in China and Korea; however, these events are not taught in Japanese schools. Most of the Japanese public are unaware of these atrocities. To acknowledge these events would bring shame and guilt to the Japanese government and people hence they were intentionally suppressed.
Critique for Article #1
Rio Tinto bosses lose bonuses over Aboriginal cave destruction(389w)
Reviewing the writer’s point of view and how his findings are presented can reveal the overt and covert assumptions regarding how Indigenous peoples are viewed by Non-Indigenous peoples, specifically from the context of the economic and industrial predominance of a global corporation such as Rio Tinto.
Early in the article the emphasis is on the loss of executives’ bonuses as a punitive action to redress the tragedy of the loss of archeologically caves to the Indigenous peoples. This emphasis the perspective was equally or more important than the destruction of the caves and the Indigenous people’s community and their history.
This implies that large Non-Indigenous Australian organization has more power and control over the Indigenous Australian heritage and peoples, such as Rio Tinto and portrays the Indigenous peoples as easily victimized by large corporation, little power, possess no voice, and political recourse. On the other hand, Rio Tinto’s executives losing their bonuses constitutes ‘a slap on the wrist’ without meaningful consequences and life goes on for Rio Tinto.
The article acknowledges the company was negligent and this was avoidable, however, there is an underlying assumption that Rio Tinto holds the power. What is not overtly addressed is the lack political power and voice of the Indigenous peoples of the region. The covert perspective being perpetuated is that Indigenous peoples have little power and are victims of the greater power of the Non-Indigenous society, and that the Non-Indigenous people must exercise due diligence and ethical integrity in order to protect the Indigenous section of society. Such a perspective can be damaging to the greater Non-Indigenous remaining entrenched in the view that they are the caretakers of the Indigenous and does little to address the political voice necessary for the Indigenous people to be considered a valid stakeholder of society.
Rio Tinto stated their core values is to respect the communities and their heritage. This article reveals the disconnection Rio Tinto has with the Indigenous peoples, in contradiction to their proclaimed values. Rio Tinto had obtained legal authority for blasting on the site, however, they did not communicate with the local Indigenous community, regarding their planned action. Although the chief executive of Rio Tinto, Chris Salisbury, apologized to the Indigenous peoples the relationship with the Indigenous peoples had been damaged and will take quite an immense effort to rebuild the relationship.
Critique for Article #2
‘It’s just denial’: Bruce Pascoe, Labor condemn PM’s ‘no slavery in Australia’ claim(387w)
This article enlightens the suppression of historical events within Non-Indigenous society and education system that reveal racial and ethnic injustices against Indigenous peoples. Koslowski attempts to bring attention to the outcry of Indigenous peoples regarding the truth about the untold past through the commentaries of Bruce Pascoe and Linda Burney regarding the Prime Minister’s statement ‘no slavery in Australia’. The overriding message is the need to listen to the Indigenous peoples to know what happened in the past and acknowledge the racism and injustices committed by the European colonials. There is also a covert acknowledgment that not only these injustices occurred and were perpetrated by the colonialists, but the mainstream education does not teach the history of slavery in Australia. In modern era, the education system suppresses the public awareness due to motivation by a sense of shame so very few know of slavery existence in Australian history.
When the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison claimed that slavery did not exist in Australia, Pascoe points out that current Australians are in denial when it comes to the country’s history on how Indigenous Australian and Torres Strait Islander peoples were treated, due to ignorance resulting from the suppression of past events in the education system and media. This is more revelatory of the fact that Morrison was ignorant of this part of the Australian history rather than intentionally denying the truth. It also brings up the question whether Morrison has taken time and effort to understand the real issues of the Indigenous peoples. Morrison claimed to have proudly mentioned that his ancestors ‘were on the First and Second Fleets’ and in his view, they were not subject to forced labour and never practised slavery. His statement entrenches the public view that Australians, unlike Americans and European Colonial powers did not stoop to slave ownership.
Koslowski highlights the existence of disconnection between the Non-Indigenous greater society and government Indigenous peoples. Burney mentions that to have a better understanding of the Indigenous peoples in today’s culture, the education system needs to include the historical context of how Australia as a nation was built. This requires an acknowledgment of slavery that have been stripped away and suppressed from Australian history and the education system. By doing this we are able to communicate better and improve on relationship for the future of Australia.
ReferencesRio Tinto bosses lose bonuses over Aboriginal cave destruction
