‘‘Education & Empowerment under Education & Empowerment under the Leadership of Granpa Jamesthe Leadership of Granpa James

Maloga-Cummeragunja: 1881-1922Maloga-Cummeragunja: 1881-1922

Dr Wayne Atkinson-Yorta Yorta, Elder,Dr Wayne Atkinson-Yorta Yorta, Elder, Senior Fellow, University of Melbourne Senior Fellow, University of Melbourne

http://waynera.wordpress.com/family-history-connections

Format of TalkFormat of Talk

Profile on Thomas Shadrach JamesProfile on Thomas Shadrach James

From Mauritius to Uni Melb, Maloga & From Mauritius to Uni Melb, Maloga & Cummeragunja.Cummeragunja.

The ‘Scholars Hut’ at Maloga-the ‘Power of the The ‘Scholars Hut’ at Maloga-the ‘Power of the Voice and the Spear of the Pen’Voice and the Spear of the Pen’

Granpa’s inspiration continues in Education Granpa’s inspiration continues in Education and leadership today : Oncountry Learning and leadership today : Oncountry Learning program Uni Melb, 2013-tenth anniversary program Uni Melb, 2013-tenth anniversary awards.awards.

Profile: Grandpa James,1859-Profile: Grandpa James,1859-19461946Born in Mauritius, 1859. Father was James Peer sahib Born in Mauritius, 1859. Father was James Peer sahib

and Mother Miriam Thomas from India who had son and Mother Miriam Thomas from India who had son Shadrach James Peer sahib. Takes name of his Shadrach James Peer sahib. Takes name of his mother Thomas as his first name and Fathers first mother Thomas as his first name and Fathers first name as his Surname-James.name as his Surname-James.

Shadrach lived with parents in Port Louis capital of Shadrach lived with parents in Port Louis capital of Mauritius where he attended a private school . His Mauritius where he attended a private school . His Father was an interpreter in the Justice System Father was an interpreter in the Justice System representing Indentured labourers. representing Indentured labourers.

Left Mauritius when he was 17, (1866) and some of Left Mauritius when he was 17, (1866) and some of family went to (Ceylon ) Sri Lanka whom he used to family went to (Ceylon ) Sri Lanka whom he used to write to from Australia.write to from Australia.

His Aunty Pricilla who grew up in Sri Lanka comments His Aunty Pricilla who grew up in Sri Lanka comments that ‘poor Shadrach had a tough time being a coloured that ‘poor Shadrach had a tough time being a coloured Muslim lad in a strange land ‘ (Mauritius).Muslim lad in a strange land ‘ (Mauritius).

Studied Medicine at the University of Melbourne and Studied Medicine at the University of Melbourne and then turned to Education- descendents followed in his then turned to Education- descendents followed in his footsteps at Uni Melb.footsteps at Uni Melb.

Volunteered his services to help Yorta Yorta achieve, Volunteered his services to help Yorta Yorta achieve, equality in Education and fundamental rights at equality in Education and fundamental rights at Maloga-Cummera.Maloga-Cummera.

Married Ada Cooper, Yorta Yorta of whom some 1200 Married Ada Cooper, Yorta Yorta of whom some 1200 descendants.descendants.

Created the Scholars Hut at old Maloga where he Created the Scholars Hut at old Maloga where he mentored and educated the first generation of mentored and educated the first generation of Indigenous political activists of the calibre of William Indigenous political activists of the calibre of William Cooper, who was his brother in law.Cooper, who was his brother in law.

See Bibliography: See Bibliography: http://waynera.wordpress.com/

Ada Cooper

Location of Maloga & Location of Maloga & Cummeragunja 1874-2009Cummeragunja 1874-2009

Story: Scholars Hut &Coopers aptitudeFor learning see p.2Mathews Diaries

Grandpa's EducationGrandpa's Education Grandpa James, as he is affectionately known, was Grandpa James, as he is affectionately known, was

an outstanding scholar in medicine, history, politics an outstanding scholar in medicine, history, politics and linguistics as well as a qualified teacher in and linguistics as well as a qualified teacher in education.education.

He was also knowledgeable in dispensing medicines He was also knowledgeable in dispensing medicines and dentistry and was often called upon to and dentistry and was often called upon to administer medical and dental treatment in the administer medical and dental treatment in the region. region.

Grandpa brought these skills with him to Maloga Grandpa brought these skills with him to Maloga and to Cummeragunja, where he became an admired and to Cummeragunja, where he became an admired leader, mentor and headmaster of the school.leader, mentor and headmaster of the school.

Barriers to Education at Barriers to Education at Maloga-CummeraMaloga-Cummera

Proscribed level of education Proscribed level of education allowed to be taught on reserves allowed to be taught on reserves was to 3was to 3rdrd grade (equal to an 8 year grade (equal to an 8 year old white student)old white student)

Higher level of education was Higher level of education was denied by the oppressive policies of denied by the oppressive policies of the Aborigines Protection Board that the Aborigines Protection Board that overlorded the administration of overlorded the administration of reserves in NSW 1880s reserves in NSW 1880s to 1940s-see to 1940s-see 1938 NSW: Public Service Board Inquiry.1938 NSW: Public Service Board Inquiry.

Quality of Education Quality of Education AchievedAchieved

Being able to provide the quality of Being able to provide the quality of education against the barriers that education against the barriers that were imposed by the APB is a were imposed by the APB is a remarkable achievement remarkable achievement

Lets look at some examples of thisLets look at some examples of this

Quality of TeachingQuality of Teaching Encouraged students to be confident in their own Encouraged students to be confident in their own

abilities and taught them to be proud of their Yorta abilities and taught them to be proud of their Yorta Yorta identity and to recognise the empowerment that Yorta identity and to recognise the empowerment that comes from being able to articulate their grievances comes from being able to articulate their grievances through the power of the voice and the spear of the pen. through the power of the voice and the spear of the pen.

Being influenced by the passion for human dignity and Being influenced by the passion for human dignity and respect for one’s fellow people, regardless of race or respect for one’s fellow people, regardless of race or creed, Grandpa was a strong believer in the political creed, Grandpa was a strong believer in the political strategy of passive resistance- was a process that strategy of passive resistance- was a process that required patience, leadership and collective required patience, leadership and collective organisation-pre Ghandi times. organisation-pre Ghandi times.

It was largely Granpa James’s style of teaching and It was largely Granpa James’s style of teaching and William’s desire to gain justice for his people that William’s desire to gain justice for his people that combined to lay the foundation stones of what became combined to lay the foundation stones of what became the genesis of Yorta Yorta political philosophy and the genesis of Yorta Yorta political philosophy and activism in 19-20activism in 19-20thth Century Indigenous rights based Century Indigenous rights based issues.issues.

Scholars Hut: Place where Granpa mentored Scholars Hut: Place where Granpa mentored the first generation of Yorta Yorta activiststhe first generation of Yorta Yorta activists

The image of the Scholars Hut, a candle burning into The image of the Scholars Hut, a candle burning into the night, and the intellectual stimulus that T. S. James the night, and the intellectual stimulus that T. S. James was imparting to his students, is a powerful metaphor. was imparting to his students, is a powerful metaphor.

It is something that has had a profound effect on my It is something that has had a profound effect on my generation’s desires to carry on from where Grandpa generation’s desires to carry on from where Grandpa left off and to achieve in higher education- Individual left off and to achieve in higher education- Individual empowerment which in turn creates community empowerment which in turn creates community empowerment.empowerment.

To understand the quality of education that was To understand the quality of education that was happening in the Scholars Hut we need to try and happening in the Scholars Hut we need to try and recreate the world of the first graduates and the recreate the world of the first graduates and the pedagogy that Granpa brings.pedagogy that Granpa brings.

Aptitude For Learning at Aptitude For Learning at MalogaMaloga

‘‘The boy, Billy Cooper, shows great The boy, Billy Cooper, shows great aptitude for learning. He has aptitude for learning. He has acquired a knowledge of the acquired a knowledge of the Alphabet, capital and small letters, Alphabet, capital and small letters, in three days and then taught Bobby in three days and then taught Bobby (his brother) capitals in –only one (his brother) capitals in –only one day’ (Nancy Cato, Mr day’ (Nancy Cato, Mr Maloga,1993:51). Maloga,1993:51).

Writings of James Peersahib, Writings of James Peersahib, 1850’s and his son 1850’s and his son

ShadrachShadrach

Writings of Shadrach James Jnr Writings of Shadrach James Jnr & William Cooper: Spear of the & William Cooper: Spear of the

PenPen

Quality of Education Quality of Education unsurpassed unsurpassed

Quality of Edution being taught at Maloga and Cummera Quality of Edution being taught at Maloga and Cummera bought home by the many non-Indigenous students whom bought home by the many non-Indigenous students whom Grandpa taught at Maloga and later at the Cummeragunja Grandpa taught at Maloga and later at the Cummeragunja reserve, including Matthews’ eldest son John, who went on reserve, including Matthews’ eldest son John, who went on to enjoy a privileged education in Melbourne, Adelaide, to enjoy a privileged education in Melbourne, Adelaide, London and Canada.London and Canada.

On returning to Cummeragunja many years later and with On returning to Cummeragunja many years later and with a sense of gratitude he pays great ‘tribute’ to Grandpa, a sense of gratitude he pays great ‘tribute’ to Grandpa, whom he said ‘laid the truest and finest foundation of his whom he said ‘laid the truest and finest foundation of his education’ and was a ‘teacher unsurpassed anywhere’. In education’ and was a ‘teacher unsurpassed anywhere’. In comparing the quality of education being taught at Maloga comparing the quality of education being taught at Maloga and in mainstream schools, Maloga was equal to or above and in mainstream schools, Maloga was equal to or above that of the average school, which John Kerr Matthews that of the average school, which John Kerr Matthews attributes to ‘the character and ability of Mr James’.[i] attributes to ‘the character and ability of Mr James’.[i]

[i][i] Riverine HeraldRiverine Herald, 16 August 1946., 16 August 1946.

Indigenous Political Indigenous Political Movement 1930’sMovement 1930’s

Indigenous leaders of Indigenous leaders of the 1930’s led by the 1930’s led by William Cooper, Doug William Cooper, Doug Nichols, Jack Patten, Nichols, Jack Patten, Perl Gibbs, Perl Gibbs, challenged the challenged the Governments control Governments control and asserted rights and asserted rights to justice & equality to justice & equality before the law & to before the law & to full citizenship full citizenship entitlements entitlements

Australian Aborigines Australian Aborigines League,1932League,1932

William Cooper marched to German Consulate in Melbourne and spoke out about the persecution of Jewish People, after the Kristallnacht: The night of the Broken Glass. Jewish people attacked by Nazis who smashed shop windows burnt houses killing people and forcefully removing 30000 to prison camps. Uncle Williams work honoured by Israel planted red gum trees near Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, Israel, 2009 with water from the Murray Dhungulla.

Summary of Education Summary of Education Pathway Pathway

Following the footsteps of Granpa, education became the tool of Following the footsteps of Granpa, education became the tool of individual and community empowerment tracing its genesis to individual and community empowerment tracing its genesis to Maloga and Cummera and beyond- still an important living legacy in Maloga and Cummera and beyond- still an important living legacy in Yorta Yorta community today-example are graduates photos in Yorta Yorta community today-example are graduates photos in Murrup Barak many of whom are descendants of Granpa James Murrup Barak many of whom are descendants of Granpa James Including two scholars Andrea James Kimberley Maulton who are Including two scholars Andrea James Kimberley Maulton who are heading to UK on study programs .heading to UK on study programs .

Scholars hut has turned a full circle and continues to be a key Scholars hut has turned a full circle and continues to be a key metaphor in the teaching of Oncountry and the knowledge transfer metaphor in the teaching of Oncountry and the knowledge transfer that takes place between the local and academic world which in turn that takes place between the local and academic world which in turn contributes to the Yorta Yorta political strugglecontributes to the Yorta Yorta political struggle

‘‘Power of the Voice and the Spear of the Pen’ and Collective Power of the Voice and the Spear of the Pen’ and Collective Organisation” are the key strategies used to achieve fair and just Organisation” are the key strategies used to achieve fair and just outcomes in Yorta Yorta Struggle, Land Justice, National Parks, Joint outcomes in Yorta Yorta Struggle, Land Justice, National Parks, Joint Management, 2010.Management, 2010.

Will leave it there and open for discussion. Will leave it there and open for discussion.

Thank You : Wayne Thank You : Wayne

Oncountry Learning: Indigenous Oncountry Learning: Indigenous Studies, University of MelbourneStudies, University of Melbourne