Grandmother an inspiration
TWO Kelso sisters say their grandmother’s struggle during the stolen generation has given them strength and pride in their Aboriginal heritage.
Sasha Pearce, 46, and Leah Johnson, 37, have used NAIDOC Week as a coming together of the whole family.
“I’ve got all my nieces and nephews and my other sister and all her grandchildren,” Ms Pearce said.
“It’s a big family event, we come every year.”
The pair were born and raised in Townsville and understand the importance of knowing where you came from.
Their grandmother was a part of the stolen generation, taken from her home in Normanton and moved to Palm Island.
“She was split up from all her sisters and brothers, her language got stripped when she moved too,” Ms Johnson said. “We didn’t get to experience that side of our identity. We are getting back in contact with our side of the family through my nan. It’s a slow process.”
Ms Pearce said she was proud of her grandmother who became an activist, rallying for indigenous rights and also setting up a medical centre and legal aid in Townsville.
“It made me stronger, very strong, in the mind, you have to be mentally, emotionally and spiritually and culturally prepared to be Aboriginal,” she said.
“This week means a lot to our indigenous people, especially our ancestors who went through a lot,” Ms Johnson said.
“If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be here today.”
Ms Johnson said her grandma’s experience had “put a story in place for her”, and made her treasure the time and the relationship she has with her children.
“We’ve had years of knowing what she went through,” she said.
Ms Pearce said this year’s NAIDOC theme ‘ Voice. Treaty. Truth. Let’s work together for a shared future’ was fitting.
“Language is a big thing, we don’t know our own language, we need to start telling the truth,” she said.
“Other people that aren’t from the country need to learn a lot about our culture, we are the first nation people.”
Ms Pearce said more needed to be done to bridge the gap between the indigenous and non-indigenous community.
“The first thing anyone looks at when they see Aboriginal people, they think they smoke and drink all the time but that’s not all of us,” she said.