Video Transcription

Outback Tom yarns with mob about being a good ally to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

G’day, my name is Tom Forest. I’m a Yorta Yorta man from a tribe in Victoria, and I grew up in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia. I work as a journalist, filmmaker, and storyteller. Come with me.

Growing up in a small Aboriginal community, I realized early on the importance of the relationship between the First Nations community and the non-Indigenous community in town. It was that relationship that made these towns across the regions a community.

I spoke to some mob from around town to find out what being an ally means to them.

For me, a good ally to mob is not someone who just does it for show—someone who actually holds space, opens up doors for mob, and gives them opportunities to go further. I’ve had some really great people who have held spaces for me in companies where, normally, mob aren’t represented. To me, that’s being a good ally—actually doing the work behind the scenes, not just when everyone’s looking.

I think that having mutual respect is an important part of the first steps to being an ally. You can’t just say, “Well, I’m wearing a flag on my t-shirt today, so I’m an ally tomorrow.” It doesn’t work like that.

I think there needs to be a real understanding around what our people go through. The easiest step you can take is actually understanding where you are living, where we are working, and where we exist. These are the lands of people who were here long before anyone else.

I think the main thing is all about listening—active listening—actually taking things on, not just waiting for a chance to speak over someone. It’s really important to never forget history and all the things that did happen.

It’s a really intense and traumatic topic for a lot of First Nations people, so it’s all about creating a community where we have that connection with each other and that respect. Understanding history, but moving on in a way that uplifts, helps, and supports First Nations people—that’s key.

I think if you are prepared to stand behind and not in front of someone who is Indigenous, to really listen to the stories they have to tell and the messaging they have to share, you’re on the right track. Ask questions where you can and be really open to hearing the feedback that comes your way.

Sometimes that feedback might not be positive, but having that open-mindedness and being receptive to hearing Indigenous perspectives, even if that puts you in a difficult position, is really important.

I hope these words can act as a form of advice and give you a better understanding of what it means to be an ally to the First Nations community.

Thanks for watching.

Video by ReachOut