You found us but we didn't ask to be found,
For you arrived but we were here first.
You saw us but you didn't watch us,
You therefore acknowledged us but you didn't learn from us.
You heard us but didn't listen to us,
And you spoke but not our language.
You tried to teach but your ways,
You touched our land but you didn't feel it,
So you took without knowing what you were taking,
And you gave back but with conditions.
Before we understood but now we are left confused.
Our history is your profit,
Our presence your challenge,
And our future now lies in your hands as the consequence of your actions.
I wrote this on the bus on the way back from our 3 day tour to the centre of Australia (December 21st). I wondered if the Aborigines felt like this when land was taken from them. I don't know. I haven't talked to any of them to ask them. I was just thinking about it in the bus. (Land was given back to the Aborigines but under a 99 year lease to the Australian government.)
