Change

Below, Indi, Kylie, Maree and Shannon reflect on how NAIDOC marches have changed since the early 1990s. Indi and Kylie comment on earlier marches, which comprised mainly First Nations people, compared to now with people from many groups. Shannon and Maree discuss the regulations imposed on protest marches today, as opposed to thirty years ago when protestors were able to literally block traffic and trams.  

"I feel like it was more Blackfellas... back in the day. Now it's really mixed. We've got support from everybody."

Kylie Clarke (6 December 2020)

"...I think throughout my history and my memories of NAIDOC marches, ever since I was a kid they were always just Blackfellas... I’d look around and I knew there was Aunties and Uncles everywhere. I remember moving here four years ago and my brother boy and I going to one of the marches, and I was just spinning out because there were so many white fellas around us. And I just remember thinking to myself... this is so deadly because it shows that change is happening and more people are walking with us. But it was also kind of strange, because back in the day I could look around and I would have noticed or knew someone around me... Whereas now days you know, you've got to look a bit harder to find the mob."

Indi Clarke (6 December 2020)

[Lindy?], Peter Rotumah, Mick Edwards

"We're sitting in the middle of the road in front of the trams and the cars, we're blocking them."

Shannon Faulkhead (9 December 2020)

"...the people are blocking both traffic going in and out, and the tram.... That just doesn't happen now. You gotta keep to one side. But back in the day we were able to block traffic literally."

Maree Clarke (9 December 2020)