Deadly Dangerous Voices

Dr Grant Leigh Saunders

What it's all about...I was inspired to create this podcast by the current Australian government’s push for a referendum on an Indigenous voice to parliament (The Indigenous Voice). This show is about exposing the many Deadly Indigenous voices (plural) that exist between the Yes23 campaigners and the racist No voters and through conversations with a diverse range of everyday Indigenous Australians, political activists, politicians, lawyers, comedians, musicians etc we will learn why many Indigenous peoples are saying No (a progressive No) and offer alternatives to what many deem a symbolic and ultimately powerless voice to parliament. Of course after the referendum the show must go on and will continue to hear these deadly voices speaking truth to power and offer some important but not so popular views on Indigenous society, culture and politics in Australia. A bit about me...I am a 1971 model Biripi man from the mid-north coast of NSW. I have been working in Aboriginal education and media as a teacher and filmmaker for over 30 years. I hold a masters in film and documentary and am a Doctor of Creative Arts. I have produced over 20 broadcast programs for the ABC, NITV and have won some awards for my independent documentary film making. I have a passion for Indigenous social justice and truth telling and surround myself with people actively pursuing these same goals through their front-line activism, art, films, music and politics. I hope to have these deadly people on the show to engage with in some very deadly yarns. I am also a music lover and maker so the show will also feature some of my own as well as some of my favourite Indigenous Australian music.

Episodes

  1. Out of Mourning- post The Voice Referendum with Sam Cook

    11/03/2023

    Out of Mourning- post The Voice Referendum with Sam Cook

    In this epilogue on the Voice series I have a deadly dangerous yarn with Aboriginal muso, activist, US -based International Creative Director, Miss Samantha Cook. We discuss the overwhelming No vote in the recent referendum on enshrining a voice to parliament and its impact on both the Yes23 campaigners as well as Aboriginal progressive No's who didn't want the referendum in the first place. We unpack the history of the Voice campaign, the designers, financial backers and the government/media appointed Aboriginal leadership that led the campaign and what we believe they and we should do as the next step. We acknowledge the trauma experienced by all, including the Yes23's who called for a week of silence as an expression of mourning and look at the whole exercise as a cautionary tale for our "leaders" to properly consult and include all Indigenous voices, especially grass roots people they purported to represent. As for non-Indigenous allies, they need to 'hold space' for Indigenous peoples and learn to listen and respect our peoples whose lives were ultimately going to be determined and governed by non-Indigenous people as a result of this referendum. Can we instead look at a referendum on a republic again, whereby our peoples are included in writing a constitution together that acknowledges our sovereignty and an equal path forward? A document that leads to our self-determination and equity in Australia's economy derived from stolen Aboriginal land and waters? A treaty through a re-write of our constitution. Sam shares her hope for a younger, diverse, intelligent leadership with strong ties to community and its concerns who need the space and funding to lead, which may require current leadership to step aside or at least include these voices and all come together and acknowledge our power in unity.

    59 min

About

What it's all about...I was inspired to create this podcast by the current Australian government’s push for a referendum on an Indigenous voice to parliament (The Indigenous Voice). This show is about exposing the many Deadly Indigenous voices (plural) that exist between the Yes23 campaigners and the racist No voters and through conversations with a diverse range of everyday Indigenous Australians, political activists, politicians, lawyers, comedians, musicians etc we will learn why many Indigenous peoples are saying No (a progressive No) and offer alternatives to what many deem a symbolic and ultimately powerless voice to parliament. Of course after the referendum the show must go on and will continue to hear these deadly voices speaking truth to power and offer some important but not so popular views on Indigenous society, culture and politics in Australia. A bit about me...I am a 1971 model Biripi man from the mid-north coast of NSW. I have been working in Aboriginal education and media as a teacher and filmmaker for over 30 years. I hold a masters in film and documentary and am a Doctor of Creative Arts. I have produced over 20 broadcast programs for the ABC, NITV and have won some awards for my independent documentary film making. I have a passion for Indigenous social justice and truth telling and surround myself with people actively pursuing these same goals through their front-line activism, art, films, music and politics. I hope to have these deadly people on the show to engage with in some very deadly yarns. I am also a music lover and maker so the show will also feature some of my own as well as some of my favourite Indigenous Australian music.