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I am an Indigenous Woman

It can be hard enough for anyone to talk about sexual assault, and to get in touch with the services and the support they need. For some groups and communities, it's even harder.

Black women in Australia have been raped by white men since 1788. There have also been many other acts of violence against them; including acts by the government, like taking their children and putting them into white institutions.

Since the white invasion, indigenous Australians have also been forcibly displaced from their lands, and traditional ways have been destroyed or neglected through interference by the white occupants.

Indigenous communities
The pressures that came with the invasion of our indigenous communities have lead to an increase in violence, especially violence against women and children. Sexual assault is sometimes associated with alcohol abuse. Being drunk is not an acceptable excuse for violence.

Many indigenous Australian women are angry and frustrated that this violence is allowed to continue. They feel that men should accept that the violence exists and take responsibility for it, and work with women for change. In some communities, women and some men are developing ways to deal with what's happening, through education, awareness and support services for women.

Violence against women and children, whether by outsiders or by people
in indigenous communities, is not OK.
It has never been OK.

If you have been raped
Don't accept the idea that you somehow deserved to be raped. It's not your fault. You shouldn't feel guilty for what happened. The rapist is guilty.

Use the system
If the rapist is not indigenous, you may feel uncomfortable having to use the white system to report the rape or get treatment. You may be afraid you won't be believed, or that the system will treat you badly.

Try to make that system work for you. If you feel uneasy about reporting to the police or going to the hospital, take someone you trust, so they'll be there to back you up.

The NSW police service has Aboriginal police liaison officers who can help you talk to the police, or explain your rights (see our fact sheet on "Reporting to the Police".)

What if he's indigenous?
If the rapist is an indigenous Australian, you may feel even worse. You may feel bad about reporting him to the white legal system. Don't worry about him-he didn't worry about you. He acted against the community by raping you. You need to look after yourself, and other women in your community.
A lot of Aboriginal communities are very close which is great-except it can mean that one woman being raped becomes a traumatic experience for the whole community.

If the rapist is from the community, you may feel some extra pressures. You may find it hard to talk to local workers, who know both you and him. Some women decide to contact services outside their community. For referral outside your community, call NSW Rape Crisis Centre, or see our fact sheet on "Where to Go for Help".

It's OK to feel angry
You've been raped. You have a right to feel angry. It's healthy to feel angry about having your peace of mind and your personal security shattered. You may also feel angry about being in the position where you need other people's help. A sexual assault counsellor can give you ideas about how to let out your anger in ways that don't hurt you or anyone else.

Acting as a group
If you want to report a rape, and there is no indigenous sexual assault counsellor available, think about asking other women to support you during this process. If possible, your group should include a woman who has experience in this area and is aware of the issues of sexual assault. She can support the other members in stating the case on behalf of the sexual assault victim and other women in the community. With a group you will not need to assert yourself the way you would if you were alone, or have the added distress of coping with racism or ignorance by yourself. You can conserve your energies to help you get through the ordeal.

For service providers...
It is very important to be able to understand some of the complexities an indigenous woman may be dealing with if she wants to take action against a violent partner.

You can help by being culturally aware, working with communities and providing relevant information. Together you can make a difference.

By opening channels of communication to bring in accurate information and by providing adequate and consistent services, you can help achieve change (from the Apunipima Family Violence Project).