Deathscapes

Villawood 1d - Reciprocal Struggles

Deathscapes

Reciprocal Struggles

Even as Indigenous people and asylum seekers occupy different positions that are informed by distinct histories and relations of power, reciprocal struggles and solidarity between First Nations peoples and people seeking asylum have been articulated and demonstrated by groups and individuals. To mark Invasion Day 2017, Wiradjuri Elder and Poet, Riverbank Frank organised a protest outside the Villawood Immigration prison; meanwhile members of RISE (Refugees, Survivors and Ex-Detainees) marched in Invasion Day protests in Melbourne.

‘I really would like to get a message to my brothers and sisters out there in Indigenous Australia, you know, it’s not wrong to look outside of ourselves… My father was Stolen Generation; they stole him as a child. They lock up children now. So you know, you wonder how far we’ve come, both situations are not unalike at all.’

Riverbank Frank (Wiradjuri Elder and poet)

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‘Colonisation is not an event, and it’s ongoing, and it’s actually the same oppression and system that informs border imperialism….[the same system] informs Nauru, and it informs Don Dale. And that’s why we’re here today.’

Tania Canas (RISE Arts Director)


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This research was primarily supported under the Australian Research Council’s Discovery Projects funding scheme.

Partial funding was received from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada’s Partnership Development Grants scheme.

The views expressed herein are those of the named authors and are not necessarily those of the funders.

All content © artists and deathscapes.org, 2017.

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