In part 2 of our Black Lives Matter series we talk to BLM campaigner, Social Justice Advocate and budding Environmental Scientist Tamika Sadler.
Organiser of the Black Lives Matter march on the Sunshine Coast event was Sunrise Beach resident Tamika Sadler. Tamika is studying Environmental Science and works as a community organiser and campaigner with Seed – Australia’s first Indigenous youth climate network.
We asked her about her mob and how she manages to juggle all her duties with being a loving and caring mother to her son. Here’s what she had to say.
“On the 4th of June 2020, the Sunshine Coast saw its most powerful rally, I think to date. Originally I asked my partner if we were going to the rally in Meanjin (Brisbane) and he said yes. I then said, what if I organised one up here, do you think many people would come along. He kind of laughed it off, but said that he would support me.
I slept on it that night, and awoke to the confronting video of a young Indigenous teenager being harassed by police in Sydney. That was the last straw for me, as I am raising a young black boy, who could be a victim at the hands of police brutality.
I then had 48 hours to organise the protest, with the event being shared, messages requests coming in and no real concept of the amount of people that would actually be at the protest. On the day, there were over 2500 people walking together and uniting as a community to fight for racial and systematic justice. Since then, I have been empowered by the ongoing support by our mob and allies and intend of creating a group where we can unite and be a voice for change on the coast.
My experience has been an uphill battle, fighting against the fossil fuel industry from destroying and polluting land and sea country. This is something that will not go away overnight, which is why I must continue to fight the good fight, if we want to leave our grandchildren a safe and clean environment for them to thrive in, not just survive.
I am the eldest of five children. I attended Maroochydore State High School. My first experience of racism was in daycare. I was a shy girl with a big heart and tried my best to make friends. The other girls would tell me I was ugly because of the colour of my skin, so I would usually play with my cousins. One of them being white with red hair and freckles and the other being black.
During one afternoon of nap time, I slept in my space when I was attacked and woken by the girls that ridiculed me. They severely scratched my face and body to the point that I was bleeding. I was instantly picked up by my mother and clearly recall there was no punishment to the group of girls that attacked me.
The next moment that I clearly remember was when I was in grade 1. It was one of the first couple of weeks settling into school routine when a young boy in my grade sat next to me and asked “why are you black on one side of your hand, and white on the other?” and then he told me that I looked ugly like an alien and that my skin colour looked like faeces.
Throughout my schooling I would get called an “abo, coon, nigga” as well as having so called friends say “you’re my black friend, so I can say that” when referring to stereotypes or derogatory names.
But the next generation is staunch, confident and proud. There are plenty of young First Nations children and people rising that are a part of this change the globe is now facing. It is time, the organisations and business must do better by incorporating more Indigenous people within the workforce and implementing Indigenous perspective within every sector.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people come from the oldest surviving culture on the planet, and are the longest conservationist. Which is why it is crucial if we want to reverse the impacts of climate change, we must seek our elders and first nations people to implement our sacred and sustainable ways of living.
For those who want to make a difference, we ask that you support our people, do not use us as a tool of tokenism. You must want to do better and lead by example. Do not support us because of a hashtag or you feel obligated. Acknowledge our people, our culture and treat us with respect.”
