Finished off a major writing project last week which had involved a lot of research, which took me to some interesting places...
While writing some of the materials on the theme of exploration, I was reminded of the story of Burnum Burnum.
This was something that stuck with me, as it happened just as I started teaching, and I used it as an example of the nature of exploration and discovery. Burnum Burnum's claim was just as 'valid' as that of
He was originally born as Harry Penrith in 1936, and spent most of his early life in children's homes having been orphaned.
On the day of Australia's bicentenary, back in 1988, Burnum Burnum planted the flag of the Aboriginal peoples of Australia at the White Cliffs of Dover.
It's a reminder about the nuanced nature of 'exploration' which is why our Mission:Explore missions are as valid a form of exploration as any other...
An interesting blog post here
His declaration is pictured below...
Source: Wikimedia Commons
While writing some of the materials on the theme of exploration, I was reminded of the story of Burnum Burnum.
This was something that stuck with me, as it happened just as I started teaching, and I used it as an example of the nature of exploration and discovery. Burnum Burnum's claim was just as 'valid' as that of
He was originally born as Harry Penrith in 1936, and spent most of his early life in children's homes having been orphaned.
On the day of Australia's bicentenary, back in 1988, Burnum Burnum planted the flag of the Aboriginal peoples of Australia at the White Cliffs of Dover.
It's a reminder about the nuanced nature of 'exploration' which is why our Mission:Explore missions are as valid a form of exploration as any other...
An interesting blog post here
His declaration is pictured below...
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Transcript: "The Burnum Burnum Declaration England, 26th January, 1988
I, Burnum Burnum, being a nobleman of ancient Australia do hereby take posession of England on behalf of the Aboriginal people. In claiming this colonial outpost, we wish no harm to you natives, but assure you that we are here to bring you good manners, refinement and an opportunity to make a Koompartoo - 'a fresh start'. Henceforth, an Aboriginal face shall appear on your coins and stamps to signify our sovereignty over this domain. For the more advanced, bring the complex language of the Pitjantjajara; we will teach you how to have a spiritual relationship with the Earth and show you how to get bush tucker.
We do not intend to souvenir, pickle and preserve the heads of your 2000 of your people, nor to publicly display the skeletal remains of your Royal Highness, as was done to our Queen Truganninni for 80 years. Neither do we intend to poison your water holes, lace your flour with strychnine or introduce you to highly toxic drugs. Based on our 50,000 year heritage, we acknowledge the need to preserve the Caucasian race as of interest to antiquity, although we may be inclined to conduct experiments by measuring the size of your skulls for levels of intelligence. We pledge not to sterilise your women, nor to separate your children from their families. We give an absolute undertaking that you shall not be placed onto the mentality of government handouts for the next five generations but you will enjoy the full benefits of Aboriginal equality. At the end of two hundred years, we will make a treaty to validate occupation by peaceful means and not by conquest.
Finally, we solemnly promise not to make a quarry of England and export your valuable minerals back to the old country Australia, and we vow never to destroy three-quarters of your trees, but to encourage Earth Repair Action to unite people, communities, religions and nations in a common, productive, peaceful purpose.
Burnun Burnum."
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