Revitalising Yarrabah and Decolonising Everydayness

Abstract

This chapter melds together the author’s earlier experiences of Yarrabah developed in 2007 and those she recorded in 2014 in a longitudinal research framework. Looking backwards, sideways, and forwards, this chapter shows that she was struck by the persistence of external isolation, potentially declining connection with the external and wider Australian society, the possible stereotyping and prejudice that such invisibility engenders had remained notable and stubbornly immutable, and the foreclosure of possible opportunities for the community people. In this sense, the chapter shows the re-imaging of isolation not only as geographical but also as socio-cultural, with deleterious economic implications. Even worse, existing policy seems to rectify this isolation and marginalisation which, in turn, eclipses any social and economic mobility that to which the youth in the community can aspire. On the brighter side, however, I found substantial changes in the form of greater internal mobility and connectedness, the further development of culturally sensitive education material, and a greater sense of pride in the development of language Indigenous to the community. From this perspective, the challenge is how to attenuate the dark clouds and escalate the bright star. The chapter, therefore, analyses the workings of several institutions aimed at revitalising the community. On the basis of the evidence, it argues that it is Indigenous systems that can serve as avant garde for further community revitalisation and self-determination.