Students given new perspectives on Aboriginal politics

Thirty University of Queensland students recently gained first-hand experience at being fingerprinted and put behind bars.

The students had not been arrested but were experiencing what it was like to be in custody as part of an interdisciplinary University subject on Aboriginal politics, ID333, organised by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.

Associate lecturer Dennis Foley has taken students on several field trips this year to provide different perspectives on issues relating to their course.

'If you just teach Aboriginal politics from a text book it can be dry and boring, so we have used excursions to enlighten students on problems facing indigenous Australians, from social justice to environmental issues,' he said.

Earlier this semester students visited Stradbroke Island and were briefed by CRL Mining on their activities, then also meet members of the island's traditional owners, the Quandamooka Land Council.

'Students heard both sides of the sand mining issue, and we have left it to them to make up their minds from their own observations,' Mr Foley said.

'We recently visited the Aboriginal Legal Service, where students were briefed by a legal counsel and a sociologist, then went to the Brisbane Watch House where students learned about the whole charge process, from processing of people through to the Magistrate's Court and eventual conveyance to a prison.

'Again, we requested students to use their own observations, and many students commented on the claustrophobic feeling of being trapped in three floors of solid, encased concrete. Aboriginal deaths in custody is easily understood after the reality of bars closing behind you.

'We've had positive feedback from all the students, who now have greater understanding of many social justice problems and issues.'

Mr Foley said the course covered 14 topics, including Aboriginal women in politics, education, political assimilation, Wik and Mabo, and future directions.

Students this year are from the Arts, Business, Economics, and Law, Engineering Physical Sciences and Architecture, and Social and Behavioural Sciences faculties.

Mr Foley said about half the student group were international - and many were interested in the activities of the Inuit (indigenous) peoples of Alaska and Canada.

In semester two, the Unit will offer a similar inderdisciplinary subject, ID329, Torres Strait Islander Studies, which provides a micro-view of Torres Strait Islander culture and issues including post settlement, health, education, land rights, and development.

Mr Foley said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit staff would act as facilitators, introducing Torres Strait Islander community people as guest lecturers.

Many lectures will be conducted outdoors, with students seated in 'circles of learning', experiencing Torres Strait Islander culture by interaction with Torres Strait Islander people in activities such as weaving, song and ideology.

A course highlight will be an end-of-term kup muri (similar to a Maori hangi) where students will learn to prepare traditional Torres Strait Islander food such as pork, chicken, fish and taro, and cook and serve it under the guidance of Torres Strait Islander elders.

For further information, contact Mr Foley, telephone 07 3365 6794.