![]() ![]() That is why I jumped at the opportunity.Īt 18 months old, put into a children’s institution in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and there I lived for 11 years in a dormitory sort of setting, with a lot of other non-indigenous kids. When I had the opportunity, Wolf called me or I called him and said, “Yep, I’ll do it.” For you to not only listen to me, and get an understanding of where my music is coming from and where it’s going, it gives me the opportunity to tell the world, the reality, of what is happening. But I do it so that the world understands what is really happening in this country. It burns to my core, even today, having to explain to visitors to this country, what is really happening in this country. What are our most prized possessions? They’re our children, and my mother and father had turned over six. We get protective over a phone, a watch, and a wallet. So we were considered alongside trees, shrubs, animals and dirt. Or because the white man says, “OK, we’ll let you become citizens in your own country.”ĭo you know what, we were part of the Flora and Fauna Act of Australia. Then 1967 comes along, gives indigenous people, Aboriginal people, the opportunity to become citizens, finally, in our own country that we’ve been in since time began. How’d that feel, guys? Because of politics, and because I was born this color, in this country, my mother and father had to hand over six children. Yeah, well that might be why I want it! My mother and father had to hand over six children, me being 18 months old, and we’re worried about a watch. Maybe messages in there from an ex-girlfriend. It belongs to the individual, the owner of what is in here. Did you hear that? Could you give that answer again? Not many people are willing to do it, why? Can somebody answer me? Why are you not willing to hand over a watch, a phone, a wallet? Can somebody explain why? I’ll own them, and I’ll do what I please with them. Honestly, you’re not going to get your phone back or your wallet. Can I have it? You’re willing to put your phone in there? Is there anybody, willing to put their watch, or their wallet, or their phone in this box? Now. Before I actually start, I want to give you an understanding. I’m from near South Wales, born on the Murrumbidgee River, which flows into the Murray, which the Murray flows into South Australia. To understand why I have got the opportunity today, to talk in front of you, you need to understand where I have come from. I don’t want to assume knowledge, necessarily, of some of the history, so if you want to try to synopsize that a little bit for everybody, so they have an understanding… I might as well go straight into my talk, huh? ![]() In introducing me Jeff, I have to acknowledge that me being not born of this country, Melbourne, I have to acknowledge the traditional owners of Melbourne, the Wurundjeri people, in their customs and their beliefs, because if I don’t do that, as an indigenous person of this country, I’m not adhering to laws and protocols that have been here not for 217 years, since Captain Cook sailed in his “great endeavor.” I am a descendant of peoples of this country for over 100,000 years. ![]() Even sitting in this audience, and only seeing one other black man, person, is difficult. It’s an opportunity for me, obviously being this color, in this country, and people sort of try to suggest that it’s not like that. For me, music is more than just the audio and the sound that resonates. The opportunity for you as singer-songwriters, musicians, people within the industry itself and what is music, and what can it do. Won’t you please give a warm welcome to Mr Kutcha Edwards. He is also an activist and he’s come to speak a little bit about his career. He’s a singer-songwriter, highly respected here. Our next guest, I think it’s very appropriate that we have him here. ![]()
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