Indigenous People in Australian Society - Torres Strait Islander People - Report Writing Assessment Answer

Report Writing Assignment

Assignment Task

1. Choose one person from the list of Indigenous Australians provided and research that person’s life and contributions to Australian society. Choose only from the list, as these have been prepared with a diverse selection of people across a range of areas. For example, we have not included David Unaipon as he is a focus of the unit content.
2. You must choose a different person to research than your team members. Your eLA will provide a sign up sheet for you to join a team and indicate who you will research.
3. When you have conducted sufficient research you are to construct a profile of your chosen person’s life. Make sure you include the following aspects in your profile:
4. Contextualise your chosen person’s life and the significant events and cultural experiences that impacted on who they are and what they achieved.
5. Describe and give examples of how this person contributed to Australian society.
6. Make reference to the readings in the unit and what you have learned so far about Indigenous history and perspectives.
7. Use correct terminology for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This can be found in Appendix B Terminology (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (pp. 204-206) of your eText and in Terminology and language.
8. While this is an individual component, you may want to share your ideas, the challenges you face, and your questions about how best to complete this section of the task with your team. In this way you might be a sounding board for your team members, and have a sounding board in them. Giving and receiving feedback will strengthen your ideas and help develop deeper understanding.
9. Complete this component in report style. You are encouraged to use bullet points, images and examples to profile your chosen person. However, remember that this is not simply a list of facts or a timeline of their life.

Role model chosen and the reason for choice

Cathy Freeman has been chosen as the role model for this research. She was a former sprinter who specialized in 400m races. She has significantly contributed in the field of sports, particularly to the Aboriginal culture and the global scenario (White, 2013). She belongs to indigenous group of Australians, who have significantly contributed to the global scenario, in the field of sports, academics, arts, culture, politics and other services (Satish et al, 2015). However, the recognition of Aboriginals and their achievements has been limited, due to indifferent attitude of media towards them. As an Aboriginal, Cathy Freeman has faced various issues and struggles in the early years of her life, due to the unfortunate loss of her family members (White, 2013). She has also faced various issues due to the practice of racism in the country. However, she started to struggle with her career, at an early age. Her athletic career began at a young age of 2 years. Since then, she has been a source of constant inspiration, particularly to the Aboriginals. The story and struggles of Cathy Freeman beginning at such a young age of life, is bound to inspire individuals, to make a change and contribute to the society. She continues to inspire women and individuals of all races to stand against the wrongs in the society (Payne, 2016). In addition to her contribution in the field of sports, she has been constantly involved in community and charitable activities, to improve the status of aboriginals. She has been working to close the existing gap in the education system with respect to the Aboriginals.

Key events and experiences shaping the role model’s life

As mentioned above, Cathy Freeman began her athletic career at a young age of 2, with the support of her stepfather, who was her coach. Following this, a number of key events and experiences have holistically shaped her life and career. As a teenager, Cathy possessed a number of regional and national titles, owing to 100 m, 200 m, high jump and long jump races (White, 2013). At a young age of 16, she became the first indigenous Australian to achieve a commonwealth gold medal. The particular event that shaped her career can be jotted down to the year 1994, which was the year that witnessed her breakthrough performance. Freeman won Commonwealth gold medals in both 200m and 400m during this year (Satish et al, 2015). She is also the sixth fastest female of all time with her considerable track record. She still holds the same position at the international level, after years of her start, which highlights her contribution in the field at a global level. The turning point in her life was when she received a serious thigh bone injury in the year 1998 (Gammon, 2017). This incident led to her break from sports for a considerable time. Freeman, however, made a significant comeback in the field of sports, by winning gold at the 1999 Worlds Championship. Following this, Freeman continued to achieve in the same field throughout the year 2000. She won 400m title at 2000 Olympics in 49.11 second, becoming the second Australian Olympic champion (Gammon, 2017). Other than her achievements in the field of sports, she founded the Cathy Freeman Foundation to close the gap in educational system between Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals, in the year 2007. These events and experiences relating to her personal and professional life have significantly shaped her life.

Difference in role models and their positive and negative impact

Comparing with other two role models, Alexis Wright and Archie Roach, it can be assessed that these individuals have immensely contributed to the Aboriginal culture and history. Alexis Wright was a successful writer, born and raised in Queensland, which is similar to Cathy Freeman (Daley, 2016). Belonging to the same city, highlights similarities in culture, language and traditions of both these individuals. It also highlights their similar struggles as being part of the same community (Dobia et al, 2017). In addition to cultural similarities and struggles, the life and family experiences of both these role models have been quite similar. Wright also faced family issues and begun her career at a very young age, which is similar to Freeman (Daley, 2016). Similarly, 2007 had been a significant year in the life of both these individuals, with the foundation of Cathy Freeman Foundation by Cathy Freeman; and number of titles being addressed to Wright, for her exceptional pieces of writings (Daley, 2016). Archie Roach also had a similar story addressing family issues and childhood difficulties. He also began his career at a young age, similar to the other two role models (Matarasso, 2014). In addition, Archie and Cathy both have been acknowledged to contribute to the same cause, other than their professional career, that is, to promote the betterment of children and youth of the nation. Freeman made provisions and incentives for the education of Aboriginal children, through Cathy Freeman Foundation (White, 2013). Roach supported a refuge for Aboriginal youngsters facing problems.

These initiatives highlight their attachment and concern towards Aboriginal individuals and cultures. These also highlight their contributions made for the betterment of Aboriginal population. However, differences have been recognized in the approach of these role models towards the Aboriginal society. Roach was a musician and he has described his life experiences, struggles and stories through the lyrics of his song (Matarasso, 2014). The lyrics of his song deal with pain, loss and separation; and convey powerful meanings to the Aboriginals. The writings of Alexis are based on Aboriginal people, their cultures, struggles and communities. She has also been a lands activist, struggling for the rights of Aboriginals (Daley, 2016). Cathy Freeman, on the other hand, has inspired Aboriginals through her achievements, particularly in the field of sports. Her contribution in the field of education of Aboriginal children has also been remarkable (White, 2013). Thus, it can be concluded that the contribution and efforts made by these role models and other Aboriginals has considerably contributed to the betterment of Aboriginal population. It has provided significant recognition to the Aboriginals, along with the provision of equal rights, education and land privileges to them.

Analysis of individual component

Analyzing the contributions of Cathy Freeman and Alexis Wright in context with Aboriginal Australians, various similarities and differences can be assessed, as stated above. These similarities and differences exist due to varied approach of both the contributors, which can be attributed to social, cultural and racial differences between the two role models (Dobia et al, 2017). Despite the common roots to the same city, that is, Queensland, the differences in contributions can be attributed to racial and cultural differences faced by the role models. As stated before, Cathy Freeman faced several issues during her earlier life, due to the practice of racism in the nation. Alexis Wright also had her struggles during her initial years, but did not face similar issues, relating to social and cultural factors (Dobia et al, 2017). In addition to this, the personal life of Cathy Freeman has also been different from Alexis, due to her personal struggles. In the year 1998, Cathy Freeman received an injury, which dispelled her from her athletic career for a considerable duration of time, as stated above. With respect to their approach, Alexis Wright worked more closely with the Aboriginals, being a lands activist (Daley, 2016). She was more aware of the nature of struggles and concerns of the Aboriginals, through her close contact. However, Cathy Freeman continued to inspire all the aboriginals through her contribution in sports. She also worked closely with the Aboriginal children, describing equal education rights to them.

In addition, Wright and Freeman also belonged to different decades, which contribute to their cultural differences, due to evolving cultural trends. Wright was born in 1950, while Freeman was born in 1973. 1950s was the post-war period for Australia, wherein the status of Aboriginal population was critical, before the collaboration of indigenous rights (Bond et al, 2015). Aboriginals during this era did not have financial or economic stability, and were mostly living off the non-indigenous half. Alexis Wright was born and brought up in this era, wherein child’s parents also did not have definite rights over them (Bond et al, 2015). This highlights her struggles despite the racial errand, as belonging to a white family. Freeman was however born in 1970s when a number of petitions had been made and Indigenous Civil Rights had been achieved by several activists. However, her struggles with racism have been considerably grueling. She faced racism as a child, and in her athletic career (Kilvington, 2017). The struggles with racism in the nation have been considerable with 1 in every 5 individuals facing racism in sports, in the form of bullying, deployment of unequal rights and discrimination against Aboriginals, including their disregard and prohibition (Kilvington, 2017). Despite these racial and cultural differences and their individual struggles, both the role models continued to achieve immense possessions for the Aboriginal Culture. The phase of silent apartheid recognized that no segregation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians with respect to separate schools, buses, washrooms and diners needs to be made (Brooks, 2016). It recognized cultural differences as training outcomes and requirements, rather than competencies. It also recognized non-indigenous population as stealing rights of the indigenous and negated their capability to formulate informed personal and professional decisions.