Professor Tracey Bunda
On 31 May, St John’s College celebrated National Reconciliation Week with keynote speaker Professor Tracey Bunda.
National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to be educated on our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, as well as explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. This year’s theme inspires all Australians to be the voice for generations, and the voice for reconciliation in our everyday lives.
Professor Bunda is a Ngugi/Wakka Wakka women and the UQ Professor of Indigenous Education.
She has an extensive three-decade career in the university sector as a leader of Indigenous Higher Education. Her research and scholarly interests address the value of storying as methodology, power inequities in white institutions and Indigenous women’s leadership. Her most recent co-authored book with Louise Phillips is ‘Storying Social Movement/s’, which she shared with us today.
Professor Bunda began documenting stories from her family whilst studying her PhD. She shared a story about her mother, told orally over generations. The story is called 'Taken', and was a moving and heart-breaking piece about the stolen generation. She tells this story to be the witness of this incident and to share with our generation. Professor Bunda stated,
And it is through that challenge that I'm able to theorize their lives and theorize because it gives us voice and it speaks back into those spaces that would otherwise render Aboriginal lives invisible.
Before finishing, she addressed all audience members,
So, we have to make a choice here. Do you want to be a passive witness? Or do you want to be an active agent of reconciliation?
Warden Rose Alwyn emphasised the importance of engagement in and awareness of Australia’s First Nations history,
It is now time we all helped in this important work. But not just today. Not just this week. But every day, and every week. To be that voice for generations.
Left-Right: Rose Alwyn, Prof Doune Macdonald, Michelle Allan, Katelyn Barney, Eden Monypenny, Dr Rea Saunders, Eloise Innes, Prof Tracey Bunda, Anthea Edmunds