Indigenous perspective illustrated with :"We are Still here"

What does "indigenous" mean?  Aboriginal, Savages, Bushmen.  My idea is that those who were there first were overtaken by incoming "civilized"  people.  Part of the conqueror's justification is that they are superior (usually with more modern technology and systems).  More critical is weaponry which at one time included horses.   Displaced.

 The title "We are Still Here" suggests some indigenous have survived despite all efforts to eliminate them.  It commemorates th 250th anniversary of James Cook's landing in Australia. The film focuses on the aboriginal tribes of Australia and Samoa and the Maori of New Zealand. Mostly there has been resistance and over the long haul there has been much integration (which also includes discrimination) and some stick on the land, retaining as much of their culture as they can.  One episode pictures a Maori fighting for the British confronting a Turk  when both realized they had nothing against the other.

 Here are only a few of the contributors

Tim Worrall was a wrtier and director for one segment.  He  has 10 credits for directing, 7 for writing and 1 for the Art Department.  One film was also a anthology, "Beyond the Veil" (2022) covering Maoris, Pasifika, Filipino and Chinese.  

Mitchell  Stanley was one of the producers.  He has 13 producing credits, 3 for  writing and 1 for directing.

Sean Mununggurr was an actor.  He has 5 acting credits including "High Ground" (2020).   Check http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/07/high-ground-from-australia.html

Robert Taylor was a actor with 79 acting credits including "The Newsreaders" (2021) and "Apples Never Fall" (2024)

Consistently what the indigenous have offered is a reverence for nature.  The more civilized had felt they had already conquered nature, but didn't realize in the long run nature wins.  Nature is fighting us back, but it turns out one of mankind's most effective advocates are the indigenous.

Integration requires  maybe two things.  The majority accepts the minority as equals and the minority makes an effort to fits in. The transition is often awkward, especially if the majority feels they are in charge. 

One way of viewing civilization is that they go up and down.  Individuals try to fit in while others exploit opportunities.  Education is a great leveler bearing mind intelligence is spread widely and genius is found in a wide variety of humans.

 At about the same time I read "Dark Emu" by Bruce Pascoe.  It told the story of colonizers who overlooked much of the Australian aboriginal culture.  They were seen as hunters and gatherers.  The settlers could not believe that the natives were worthy of their European status.  

The aboriginals had developed a productive agriculture growing tubers while the colonizers destroyed the soil with sheep.  Had developed an effective set of fish traps.  They had used grindstones 30,000 years ago and had developed a system for trading seeds.

Some quotes of Bruce Pascoe from "Dark Emu" "...all of us must be alert to that greatest of limitations to wisdom: the assumption."  And "having said we are sorry, we refuse to say thanks" Author feels the aboriginals should be thankful and apologetic.

Cultural exchanges have not always been one way, but even today most modern people are unaware of contributions from the indigenous.  The world will be better off when two way cultural exchanges increase.  Yes some things will be left aside such as cursive writing and rotary phones. 

My background is all European as far back as I can trace (back to 1500's) and some of them would have colonizers.  I have been protected and educated and given opportunities.   I hope I have availed myself of indigenous wisdom and art.  Moderns need to realize the indigenous are humans and can make our lives better.