Jimmy Little OOA.
With Mum and Dad as role models passing on our wonderful oral history wisdom came naturally to me and my siblings. Mum and Dad didn’t sit us down and strictly schooled us with “this is right – this is wrong – this is OK”
It was kind of bred naturally.
Like our neighbours, who all lived in the one big area, everybody acted the same, so there was a similarity right across the board of respect, grace , faith. All this amounted to wisdom for us.
But at the same time, by the same token, my Mum and Dad gave us signs that we wouldn’t need all the indigenous Aboriginal teaching, because we were moving into another era, another lifestyle, another dimension.
This is what my Mum and Dad were saying “ You’ve got to be wise, you’ve got to be honest. You’ve got to be sincere. You’ve got to be true to yourself.
I’m painting the pretty side, but there’s also been cruelty in my life. My father’s father was hiding in a hollow log from the troopers and settlers in Queensland who used to massacre us as people, chase us off the land, and this is another story.
As it unfolds , it’s how you live your life, not trying to live your parent’s and grandparent’s life but accepting their warnings, their training and their preparation for you to learn.
That’s what I have been doing for my daughters and grandsons, preparing them for the modern world from my old fashioned world. The wisdom that is for ever there is our faith ; in our understanding of Mother Nature and Father Time. But it’s still hard to work out with Mother Nature if you got too much rain or not enough.
My Dad told me “son there are two words which will open any door: the door of a building, the door of the mind, the door of a heart, any door you like. Two words, don’t forget, always use them: ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’ that’s your calling card”. So we learned to respect the land and each other and respect what a person can share and give.
I enjoy putting a smile of people’s faces. That’s me saying “thank you Lord for giving me this day of inspiring others to lift their chin up”. This day will be over and another one coming; just enjoy one day at a time.
The other day I took my grandson down to where my parents and grandparents are buried. I said “ son you have a lot of genes here in this sacred ground. While I’m telling you all this don’t think that you have to live their lives. Life starts with you, not me or your Mum or Dad. It’s your life to live the way you want it. Just treat it with respect.
