What Is Cultural Heritage: Part 2

Ron Bradfield Jr, the head of Bradfield Indigenous Development and Empowerment Services and blogger behind Belongum’s Blog gives us his answer to last month’s question: What is cultural heritage?

I believe our sense of Australian culture is so DENSE, so complex, it’d be impossible to ‘measure’ effectively.

A quick yarn – I once sat in a bar with an old Yamatji (Yam-ma-gee) man up here in Meeka once, turned out he was once a soldier. I’m ex-services myself, so we got to yarning. He was of the opinion that we couldn’t single out the Wadjella (Wad – gell – la) (white man) now. Once, he told me, not all that long ago – a bundle of Wadjellas went
off overseas and fought for this country in two big wars. They died and spilled blood. In my mob, he continues, when a Man defends his country – he belongs to it! He spilt blood see… any man who stands upor dies for their country belongs to their country… the Wadjellas all belong here now – this is their country too.

That old boy was telling me something important – it’s not about what is yours and what is mine anymore… it’s about what is OURS! It was a good yarn, and this is just a small part of our cultural heritage.

It’s not all neat and tidy, but it’s how I feel. simplistic maybe – definitely idealistic but I struggle with all the damn hurdles and barriers our society’s government seem to want to put in-between people – highlighting the differences as opposed to celebrating the similarities.

I’ve served with people, worked with people, lived with people from wide and varied backgrounds – in some very tense situations – and as long as a common purpose was shared and aimed for – we all had no problems living with each others differences. I don’t know why we have to insist on building walls between peoples and their cultures, rather then pulling them all together to share in the greater strength and integrity of all of them as a WHOLE. If ever there was a country that could pull this off – in my mind it would have to be Oz. We have a long way to go though… so who knows.

If you’re like us and you like Ron Jr’s style and would like to read more of what he likes to call, his “brain-box business” check out his blog, Belongum’s Blog.