I am cheeky, but no kid should be in jail. This is why I addressed the UN at just 12 years old
Werte. That means “hello” in my first language, Arrernte. My name is Dujuan, I am 12 years old. I am from Arrernte and Garrwa Country. I came here to speak with you because our government is not listening. Adults never listen to kids – especially kids like me. But we have important things to say.
I grew up at Sandy Bore outstation and at Hidden Valley Town Camp in Alice Springs. Now I live in Borroloola.
Something special about me is that I am an Angangkere, which means I am a traditional healer. It is my job to look after my family with my healing powers.
I am the star in a new documentary, In My Blood It Runs.
It was filmed when I was 10 years old. It shows what it feels like to be an Aboriginal kid in Australia and how we are treated every day.
Many things happen to me in this film.
In school, they told me Captain Cook was a hero and discovered Australia. It made me confused. It’s not true because before cars, buildings and houses there were just Aboriginal people.
I want Australia to tell the truth that Aboriginal people were the first people
who had the land.
My school report cards said that I was a failure.
Every mark was in the worst box. I thought “is there something wrong
with me?”.
I felt like a problem.
The film shows me working to learn Arrernte and about being an Angangkere.
I say, “If you go out bush each week
you learn how to control your anger and
control your life.”
I feel strong when I am learning my culture from my Elders and my land.
This is who I am and they don’t see me at school.
I think schools should be run by Aboriginal people.
Let our families choose what is best for us.
Let us speak our languages in school.
I think this would have helped me from getting in trouble.
The film shows Aboriginal kids tortured in juvenile detention. I know lots of kids that have been locked up. Police is cruel to kids like me. They treat us like they treat their enemies.I am cheeky, but no kid should be in jail.
I want adults to stop being cruel to 10-year-old kids in jail.
Welfare also needs to be changed. My great-grandmother was taken from her family in the stolen generation. My other great-grandmother was hidden away. That story runs through my blood pipes all the way up to my brain.
But I was lucky because of my family. They know I am smart. They love me.
They found a way to keep me safe. I am alright now, but lots of kids aren’t so lucky.
I think they should stop taking Aboriginal kids away from their parents – that’s wrong.
What I want is a normal life of just being me. I want to be allowed to be an Aboriginal person, living on my land with my family and having a good life.
My film is for all Aboriginal kids. It is about our dreams, our hopes and our rights.
I hope you think of me when you are telling the Australian government how to treat us better.
Thank you for listening to my story. Baddiwa – that’s goodbye in my other language, Garrwa.
• Dujuan Hoosan is 12 years old. This is an edited speech given to the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva on 11 September