There are a number of indigenous groups across Australia that all have their own customs, languages, and beliefs; but share a common experience of being systematically marginalised and oppressed by the British colonisers who invaded Australia in 1799. Since this time, the now dominant Ethnocentric population has enforced policies that have murdered, enslaved, indoctrinated, and marginalised indigenous people which continues to this day. Despite this, indigenous peoples of Australia have stood up and fought hard for their land rights and self-determination and have been successful in meaningful ways.
In my search, I found this interesting indigenous led organisation called Culturecode who state that their Project is ‘not just another Aboriginal Cultural Awareness program. It is for all cultures to come together in partnership’. This reminds me of Marker’s (2006) point that ‘Educators who wish to take up the indigenous challenge must help their students to conceptually focus a mirror rather than a magnifying glass at native people’ (p.499).
http://www.culturecodesv.com/the-culturecode-research/
This initiative attempts to help guide workplace teams navigate a deeper understanding of themselves and other cultures, particularly indigenous. Below are some models they have developed to help guide their work.
Marker, M. (2006) “After the Makah Whale Hunt: Indigenous Knowledge and Limits to Multicultural Discourse“, Urban Education, Vol. 41(5), 2006, 482-505.