Person: Uncle BJ Cruse
BJ (Benjamin) Cruse is a Monaroo and Yuin Elder. BJ has been politically active since 1966 and is the chairperson of the Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) for 41 years. BJ is passionate about reparations and recompense and caring for Country and Mother Earth. Through his activism BJ has been invited multiple times to speak at the United Nations about the Australian Government’s breach of human rights and has published works as a writer for IndigenousX, The Network for Business Sustainability and Overland Literary Journal.
The Black Duck Totem
BJ Cruse shares the story of ‘The Black Duck Totem ‘Ubarra”….
Citizen’s Rights
BJ Cruse shares the history of citizen rights for Aboriginal People in Australia and the 1967 Referendum….
The Fall of the Damper
BJ Cruse shares the story of ‘The Fall of the Damper’ and the methods of storytelling and oral history used by Yuin Peoples….
Dreaming and Dreamtime
BJ Cruse explains the difference between ‘Dreaming’ and ‘The Dreamtime’….
The History of Aboriginal Week
BJ Cruse talks about the history of Aboriginal Week, the Australian Aboriginal Progressive Association (AAPA) and how Aboriginal Week changed to NAIDOC Week….
Extermination Policies
BJ Cruse talks about past Australian Government policies that enabled the massacres of Aboriginal People….
The Voice to Parliament
BJ Cruse talks about the Voice to Parliament and the Department of Aboriginal Affairs….
Identity and Belonging
BJ Cruse talks about his perspective on Aboriginal identity and belonging….
Uncle Jack Patten
BJ Cruse talks about Uncle Chicka Dixon and Uncle Jack Patten and their role in establishing the Australian Aboriginal Progressive Association (AAPA)….
Institutional Child Abuse
BJ Cruse talks about institutional child abuse and shares a personal story about his experience….
