A Mandurah Noongar woman is shocked and ashamed racism is still prevalent in modern day society.
Barbara Pickett, who is a member of women’s group Koolbardies Talking, said her family had recently been subjected to discrimination.
Barbara said the racist behaviour towards her family, including her husband Ross and son Nathaniel, was unfair.
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“Things that have happened are just shocking,” she said.
“It hurts your pride and makes you feel ashamed. It throws you right back into the old days.”
Ross was born on a mission in Gnowangerup and said racism was “one of the worst things” in country towns.
“We come from a place where discrimination was rife,” he said. “We were off the streets at 6 o'clock.”
Ross said he was born in the mission, because his mother was not allowed to give birth in the local hospital.
“We were worse than animals, really,” he said. “We’ve been through all that and it’s still going.
“You try and get away from things that happened to you, but they still happen...it’s not very nice.”
Barbara said there was support for Noongar people in Mandurah, like the Koolbardies Talking group.
“All different cultures attend,” she said. “It’s awesome – and we all have a laugh.
“People have started to invite us places and we all go as one.”
Group member Louise Helfgott said the group aimed to understand issues in the community and counter racism.
“It has become a forum for people to voice their experiences,” she said.
“It has been quite a healing experience for people that had maybe never spoken about these issues before and have kept them inside.
“In that sense, I think it has been an important social group.”
Ms Helfgott said the group had been asked to visit Mandurah Primary School in August for NAIDOC Week.
The national celebration recognises the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The next group meeting will be held on July 16 at Coodanup College from 10.30 to 12pm in the college’s conference room.
Ms Helfgott said people could come and go as they please.
For more information or to express an interest in attending meetings, call Ms Helfgott on 0411 151 761.