My Place as counter-memory

Trees, K. (1992) My Place as counter-memory. Span: Journal of the South Pacific Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies (32).

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Abstract

On the 31st August, 1991 a large group of Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian people gathered in Forrest Chase, Perth, to celebrate the independence of their homelands. The flags of the newly independent Baltic States were proudly held aloft. Testament of the oppression experienced by the peoples of these countries at the hands of invaders was given. Freedom candles were then lighted while prayers of thanksgiving were offered. As grey clouds gathered overhead, Croatian, Yugoslavian and other people whose countries are still 'shackled by the yoke of communist oppression' marched into the mall. They were met by and offered the support of the Baltic people. I stood, watched and listened. An Estonian woman asked what country the flag on my lapel represented. My reply - the 'Aboriginal' people of Australia - did not receive acknowledgement. In that instant I once again felt complicit in a violent history of oppression.