Border residents from both sides of the Murray River are encouraged to ask potentially awkward or uncomfortable questions about Aboriginal heritage.
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The Victorian government has launched an online platform deadlyquestions.com.au to be a safe space for such questions, but all Australians are invited to take part.
Deadly Questions allows people to put queries they might otherwise not ask, for fear of offending or appearing ignorant, to Aboriginal Victorians.
Provided the questions are not offensive or obscene, they will be answered.
Examples have included:
- Why can’t Aboriginal people get over the past?
- Is being Aboriginal just the colour of your skin?
- Do Aboriginal people still face racism everyday?
- What was it like before Aboriginal people had Australian citizenship?
Deadly Questions champion Richard Frankland said the platform provided a unique chance to learn more about cultures.
“For me, treaty means hope,” he said.
“It’s about welcoming us all home. It’s our chance to change the social tapestry of the nation.
“Understanding the value of treaty to the Aboriginal community and why we’ve never stopped calling for treaty is key to moving forward.
“We all need to ask ourselves these questions.
“Where is this history, why don’t we know it, why don’t we own it and why don’t we share it?
“Why Deadly? Because to Aboriginal people, deadly means cool, or great.
“That’s what we want, we want people to ask us anything, because opening up this conversation will be great.”
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