FROM THE EDITOR: DNA #274 – First Nations Issue
ISSUE: DNA #274 – First Nations Issue | Buy
This month we celebrate First Nations!
The name Anthony Mundine pops up a few times in this issue. Most readers won’t know who he is or why he’s mentioned in our First Nations issue, so let me explain…
Anthony Mundine is an Indigenous Australian athlete. At one time he was the highest paid player in the National Rugby League, and later became a successful professional boxer. He has appeared on popular TV shows like Celebrity Big Brother and Dancing With The Stars. The Christian-turned-Muslim regards himself as an advocate for Aboriginal people and his views are often controversial.
For example, that women shouldn’t be in leadership positions, and that the USA brought 9/11 on itself.
In 2013, following a TV drama depicting a gay Aboriginal couple, Mundine tweeted: “Watching Redfern Now and they promoting homosexuality! (Like it’s ok in our culture) that ain’t in our culture and our ancestors would have there head for it! Like my dad told me GOD made ADAM and EVE not Adam and Steve.”
Controversy ensued. Mundine’s comments saddened me. But, as a white Australian, it wouldn’t have been appropriate for me to tweet back, “No you are wrong. Let me tell you about your culture…” So I shut up and just hit the liked button the social media comments made by others who were better placed to rebuke Mundine with authority.
One of the actors from Redfern Now, Luke Carroll, tweeted back: “God or Christianity isn’t a part of our Culture either… our Ancestors had dreamtime beliefs!… I’m talking about all these blackfullas that have been brainwashed with Christianity and a belief in this ‘White Jesus’ who is their saviour!! These beliefs were brought over by the white man on the first fleet!”
We could be grateful to Anthony Mundine for bringing the conversation about LGBTQIA+ Indigenous Australians to the fore, except that the way he did it caused trauma for many, especially the young. So let’s thank Redfern Now, instead, which is where that recognition belongs. While this is DNA’s first dedicated First Nations issue, we have been featuring Indigenous Australians in our pages for some time, and there are so many great stories to tell. Yes, there has been intergenerational trauma, discrimination and injustice, and these things are important to acknowledge and be honest about. But it’s not the whole story. There are stories of success, too, of achievement, of overcoming the odds.
Over the years, I have loved DNA’s chats with comedian Steven Oliver, drag queens Nova Gina and Jojo Zaho, journalists Tony Armstrong, Matty Mills and Allan Clarke, artists like painter Dylan Mooney and poet Aidan Rowlinson, actors Rob Collins and Mark Coles Smith (Our Straight Mate this issue), Northern Territory politician Chancey Paech, swimwear designers Shawn Edwards and David Leslie (this issue), musicians like Isaiah Firebrace and Electric Fields. And where would we be without our dancers – Sermsah Bin Saad and, in this issue, Ryan Pearson and Josh Taliani.
This month we explore the experiences of First Nations LGBTQIA+ peoples globally. I had a great chat with Fijian transgender advocate and educator Katherine Wolfgramme (her interview begins on page 54). Rwandan journalist, Emmanuel Munyarukumbuzi, has written a fascinating feature on First Nations LGBTQIA+ cultures around the world and how they were actively erased by colonial invaders (page 30). It’s impossible to discuss First Nations traditions without addressing the wrongs committed by colonisation, and we review Whitefella Yella Tree, a new Australian play that draws this correlation into focus.
I’d like to make a couple of special thank-yous this issue. Firstly, to writer and arts curator, Steve Lindsay Ross, who helped us bring an Indigenous lens to our interview with dancer Ryan Pearson (page 40). Also, to Ryan for his creativity and bravery, and the whole team at Bangarra Dance Theatre for their support and encouragement of this project. Thank you to David Leslie and his team at Gali Swimwear for allowing us to play with samples from their very first range for our fashion shoot.
And much love and gratitude to sexy cover guy, Mr Willy Ward, who allowed DNA to shoot him a second time and who brings such light and fun into the studio. Thank you!
Finally, thanks to our beautiful and devoted readers. I know you’ll find plenty to entertain and inform you in this issue and, as always,
I welcome your feedback (Email us: burnttoast@DNAmagazine.com.au)
Until next month, enjoy, be kind, be loved.
Founding Editor,
Andrew Creagh
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