This Survival Day I find myself angrier than usual, after Morrison’s “all stories matter” stuff. I want to say something about how I see my connection to this country and why I support Voice Treaty Truth 1/10

To state the obvious, my ancestors came here from Ireland 2/10

The ones who survived famine were driven from their homes by foreign landlords. So they got on ships. But here’s the thing 3/10

They boarded those ships as the dispossessed. But they landed in this country as dispossessors 4/10

Not their fault. This isn’t about individual fault or guilt. It’s about truth 5/10

My ancestors prospered on stolen land. And as a result so have I 6/10

My relatives die in their 80s or 90s. Not their 40s or 50s. Some have had their run-ins with the cops. But none have died in custody 7/10

None had their children stolen 8/10

To suggest the story of my ancestors is in any way equivalent to the injustice perpetrated on Indigenous people in this country is hurtful, disgusting, disgraceful and just plain wrong 9/10

Voice Treaty Truth 10/10