Dharug speaker “silenced” by Western Sydney Airport. Nicholas Howie and the importance of a First Nation’s perspective
Finn Connolly | 24/08/2023 | 7 min read
“We need to stop pretending that this (Western Sydney airport) is good for Country, or the people that live here. Western Sydney is a million little villages working together and sharing what they can. Not a mega city”.
These were some of the words Nicholas Howie, A Dharug man of the Boorooberongal clan, gave in his Welcome to Country at the 100 days of government event at Western Sydney University, 19th of July 2023.
Nicholas claims that a few days after his Welcome he was informed by a senior member of the university’s staff that they had received a complaint from the Western Sydney Airport company, regarding his Welcome. Nicholas states that because of the Airport’s intervention, he was told he may no longer be able to give Welcomes for the university that are “political” in nature.
In the wake of this incident, Nicholas outlines why he believes politics to be vital to a Welcome to Country and the harm “white washing” from corporations can cause to First Nations voices and representation.
Nicholas has been giving Welcomes on Western Syndey University’s behalf for over a year and half. Despite the often-political nature of his welcomes, Nicholas states that until recently, there has never been an issue with the content.
While Welcomes to Dharug country are traditionally given by Elders, Nicholas has been given permission to conduct them on their behalf.
He explains the meaning behind his welcomes and the importance of involving politics within its content.
“A welcome is either patting white people on the back so they can feel good or giving suggestions that we can all learn from”.
“The Dharug country never gave their blessing for the airport. We were consulted and promptly ignored. If I am to represent my ancestors and 80,000 years of history, I cannot ignore this slight on our culture. If they cannot respect our culture and our advice, I cannot give them my welcome”.
“I am not representing a university. I am representing my country”.
Nicholas Howie giving a welcome at the Whitlam Institute
The CEO of Western Sydney Airport, Simon Hickey sits on Western Sydney University’s board of trustee’s.
Nicholas states that he was told by the same senior member of the university’s staff, that because of the airports complaint and it’s position in the University’s hierarchy, he may no longer be able to give welcomes that involve politics.
Nicholas discloses that he is was disappointed to learn that a corporation could interfere with a welcome to his own country.
“It is uncharted territory for someone like me. Currently there is no rulebook for how I should be treated or listened too. It has given corporations the power to silence me. What came through to me here, was that profit margins were put before honesty and free speech. In a room full of many I can be silenced by a small few”.
Currently there are three Dharug Elders who work with Western Syndey University. Nicholas explains that when the Elders are unable to attend an event, he gives the Welcome on their behalf. Now that he may no longer be able to give welcomes that are deemed political by the university, Nicholas fears it may limit which events he can cover for his elders, limiting First Nation’s representation.
“There aren’t many Dharug elders around today. The reason why I bring this up, is because the university have events all the time. If one of them (The Elders) can’t welcome, and I can’t fill in, it puts us in a position where welcomes could potentially be less common”.
“Political could mean anything. It could be the content and it could be events were politicians or important figures are present”.
“By taking me off, by limiting what I can say, our voice could be lost”.
Reflecting on the backlash to his Welcome, Nicholas speaks on what he believes to be an issue of Welcome to Country’s and other expressions of First Nations voices being only allowed for as long as they please their audiences.
“A First Nations fellow once said to me after a welcome ‘you look like them, you sound like them, you even act like them. You will never see someone who looks like me giving a welcome in a place like this. They are going to listen to you, because with you, they can pretend’ ”.
“I’m forced to balance cultural responsibilities and the expectations of my audience. It’s an unconscious bias in this country that Aboriginal voice is less than western perspective. Every time I speak people tell me it’s important, but they only listen because I don’t look Aboriginal. I broke the suspension of disbelief and suddenly my voice didn’t matter again”
“It’s a shame that I can only do my job when it makes them look good”.
The Indigenous Voice to Parliament is set to do be decided in a referendum in late 2023. According to the Australian Government Voice website, the Indigenous Voice to Parliament will allow First Nation’s Australians to “give advice to the Australian Parliament and Government on matters that affect the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples”.
Nicholas expresses his support for the voice and why he believes an honest First Nations perspective is important for a Welcome to Country.
“The idea behind the voice is to ensure the rich minority does not undermine the collective. Aboriginal culture is about looking after country and community, not just our Aboriginal selves. When there are people with unchecked power wreaking havoc on our country it is our job to stop that. That has to be protected”.
As to whether it would be safer for First Nations speakers to leave politics out of Welcomes to prevent being silenced Nicholas states
“If this (speaking honestly) is enough to stop us (Dharug people) doing welcomes then they weren’t really listening in the first place”.
