Oodgeroo Noonuccal Analysis

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Erasing Indigenous culture?

You’re given two objects to choose from to decide our nation’s future.
A rubber or a pencil. Choose wisely.

Welcome back everybody,
I’m sure you’re aware of the controversy surrounding the removal of ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures’ from our schools’ Curriculum. Myself, I’m strongly opposed for two equally important reasons. Firstly, it’s vital that we continue to identify the truth within our nation’s history. Secondly, we must believe in further reconciliation between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

What are your thoughts?

I urge you to read poetry written by Aboriginal poet and wordsmith, Oodgeroo Noonuccal. Her authentic voice speaks to us all, not only expressing …show more content…

Noonuccal expertly conveys the ongoing pain of her people caused by this crime in We Are Going and The Dispossessed.
Symbolism in the line “’Rubbish May Be Tipped Here’. Now it half covers the traces of the old bora ring” emotionally moves us all, evoking guilt of our ancestor’s blind destruction of the Indigenous culture. The final stanza is particularly impactful using a combination of repetition of “gone” and a defeated tone, to evoke great shame within myself and fellow non-Indigenous readers whilst also highlighting the elimination of the Indigenous peoples.
Writing in second-person perspective, Noonuccal deeply involves us in The Dispossessed, evoking empathy within us all. This language choice also contributes to the accusatory tone of poem directed towards the ‘white man’. The juxtaposition of the simple rhyming scheme and the harsh imagery highlights our ancestor’s effortless aggressive behaviour against the Indigenous people which symbolises their insignificance to the white people. Imagery is effectively utilised in the line “A dying race you linger on, degraded and oppressed” to portray the constant suffering of the Indigenous

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