Aboriginal communities ‘deeply disappointed’ by cancellation of Queensland Truth-Telling and Healing Inquiry

In the early 1930s, Aunt Peggy spent her teenage years playing by the crystal clear waters of her homeland of Quandamooka, helping her grandfather reel in his dugong catch and playing on the beach with her friends.

She was closely watched by non-native men and women.

WARNING: This story contains images of First Nations people who are no longer with us.

The family has provided information for the purpose of truth telling and healing. They ask that they not be reused or photographed.

They kept records about Aunt Peggy and her extended family that would shock most people today.

“I could not help but observe the number of young girls, ranging from ¾ black to quadroon, parading about, clearly with the idea of ​​seeing and being seen,” wrote the female protector of the Aboriginal people, Mrs AE Sullivan, in Peggy’s file in 1933.

“The birth rate on the island is certainly not decreasing when it comes to the colored population.”

Other documents described a teenage girl at Myora Mission as “very well proportioned”, described the cleanliness of Aboriginal homes and described the rations on which families had to live as a “generous allowance”.

The documents are a striking reflection of how Aboriginal women were controlled by governments, explained Aunt Peggy Quandamooka’s daughter, Cheryl Jacob.

Once they reached their teenage years, girls were expected to work as domestic servants for non-indigenous households on the mainland, with part of their wages returning to the department.

“That was quite terrible, a lot of those girls were abused and came back pregnant,” Ms Jacob said.

When Aunt Peggy found out that her non-Native colleagues were being paid much more than she was, she wanted to know why.

“They told her, ‘The rest of your pay goes to the mission,’” Ms. Jacob recalled her mother’s story.

Afterwards, Aunt Peggy ran back to her home on the island, but it wasn’t long before she was sent back to work.

Aunt Peggy died in 1997, but her daughter fears stories like hers will remain untold now that research into truth and healing has ended in Queensland.

Prime Minister: ‘We are not going to engage in that process’

On Thursday, Queensland’s new Premier David Crisafulli said his government “will not allow” planned hearings in the country for the legislated Stradbroke Island inquiry in December.

“My strong advice to the people leading that process is that the new administration has made it very clear that we are not starting that process.”

The Road to Treaty legislation was passed with bipartisan support last year, but the LNP went to the election promising to repeal it.

Inquiry chair Joshua Creamer told the ABC’s Indigenous Affairs Team he was “blindsided” by the “unprecedented” decision.

“So (I) had no contact with the Prime Minister or his office before the press conference (on Thursday), or afterwards,” said the husband and lawyer for Waanyi and Kalkadoon.

“So it was quite disheartening to find out through the media yesterday.”

The decision to pause the formal process will not deter community members from gathering for the planned information session on Stradbroke Island on Saturday.

After seeking legal advice, Mr. Creamer instructed his staff not to attend next Saturday’s meeting in person or privately.

“Because of the trauma-aware and healing-oriented processes involved in working with the community, you know that stopping work halfway through in that context is really harmful.”

‘Profound disappointment’

The Queensland communities of Stradbroke, Cherbourg and Doomadgee issued a joint statement on Friday outlining their “profound disappointment” and saying this “represents a significant step backwards”.

Gorenpul man Dale Ruska, director of Minjerribah Moorgumpin Elders-in-Council Aboriginal Corporation, who will lead Saturday’s community session, said truth-telling will not stop with the government’s decision.

“It’s obviously disappointing because of how important it is to us, First Nations people, to have the first opportunity ever within historical history, colonial historical history, to be able to share our truths,” he said.

Mayor of the Aboriginal Shire of Cherbourg, Bruce Simpson, told the ABC’s Indigenous Affairs Team that the government’s decision, if not changed, “will harm generations to come”.

“Basic human rights are being softened again, we are being controlled because of a political game, I think,” said the leader of Wakka Wakka and Wangan.

The inquiry into truth and healing, which was heard for the first time last month, was expected to last three years.

Some elders have already contributed heartbreaking stories of abuse and control under the former mission system.

Mr Simpson said there were already 20 participants lined up to contribute to the upcoming sessions.

“A large part of our history is not recorded because we go into the graves with our elders because they were not allowed to tell the truth,” he said.

Prime Minister: ‘We are going to do better for them’

When asked on Friday about the decision to drop the investigation, Mr Crisafulli said he would have more to say about it “in the coming weeks”.

“We will do better for them (First Nations people) than what they have had. We will give them the opportunity to own their homes,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“I want people to know that we are serious about delivering good outcomes for Indigenous communities and Indigenous Queenslanders.”

Quandamooka woman and former treaty minister Leeanne Enoch said there is “total devastation” not only for her community on North Stradbroke Island, but also for other communities in Queensland.

“Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are deeply hurt that a government would be so resistant to even telling the truth in its early days,” she said.

Aunt Peggy’s daughter Ms Jacob, who was at the opening day of the inquiry in Brisbane in September, is sad that her mother’s home island will not hold official hearings into the truth.

“It can be a relief for people who have that in their hearts to let it go, let it go, let them move forward.”