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Articles by Sandy O'Sullivan
Not A Souvenir: Tony Albert exhibit turns racist Aboriginalia into a powerful act of truth-telling
Aboriginal people of my vintage grew up surrounded by Aboriginalia in the form of kitsch everyday objects, often depicting racist stereotypes that showed what Australia thought about us. From wall hangings to tea-towels, to drink coasters and ashtrays, they were ever present. Later, when they began to be regarded as cringe-worthy, they were relegated to the op-shops frequented by a young Tony Albert.
Not A Souvenir: Tony Albert exhibit turns racist Aboriginalia into a powerful act of truth‑telling Original
Aboriginal people of my vintage grew up surrounded by Aboriginalia in the form of kitsch everyday objects, often depicting racist stereotypes that showed what Australia thought about us. From wall hangings to tea-towels, to drink coasters and ashtrays, they were ever present. Later, when they began to be regarded as cringe-worthy, they were relegated to the op-shops frequented by a young Tony Albert.
Finding strength, community and revolution in footy
Djab Wurrung writer, runner and activist Sissy Austin writes, community is a vital part of healing. Sissy shares insights from her journey into finding a new community within a Women and Gender-Diverse football club, in the hope more queer mob will resist the urge to heal in isolation, and find their respective communities too. There is a revolution on Djaara Country.
The Routledge Handbook of Australian Indigenous Peoples and Futures
Providing an international reference work written solely by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors, this book offers a powerful overview of emergent and topical research in the field of global Indigenous studies. It addresses current concerns of Australian Indigenous peoples of today, and explores opportunities to develop, and support the development of, Indigenous resilience and solidarity to create a fairer, safer, more inclusive future.
Stories of country women: Advancing feminist intersectionality for climate change adaptation in Australia
INTRODUCTION Although our investigation focuses on the slow violence of drought in South-West Queensland, Australia, it is situated within a broader context of climate change and colonisation. In numerous global regions, the phenomenon of climate change has already begun to exert discernible effects on well-established ways of life, necessitating a reevaluation of norms and prompting contemplation regarding their potential alignment with anticipated climate alterations (IPCC, 2018).
Fucking up, fixing up, and standing up (to the colonial project of gender and sexuality)
Abstract As a Wiradjuri person living on stolen Kabi Kabi Land, I begin this article by framing Yindyamarra Winhanganha as an ethos of my life, and therefore of the research I conduct. Yindyamarra Winhanganha is a complex Wiradjuri philosophy of designing a world that is made better through our actions. It forms the starting point of my relationality and centers my aspirations as a researcher.
Statement from the ICIN regarding Oscars "goodie bag"
Acknowledging Women Blakademics on International Women’s Day For International Women’s Day, Bizzi Lavelle writes of the Blakademic womens’ voices being unheard of or left behind altogether. In 2018 the NAIDOC theme ‘Because of Her, We Can’ saw the stories of our foremothers finally get the attention and accolades they deserve. However, since then, Bizzi has noticed there are often instances where we should still be championing these stories but aren’t.
Acknowledging Women Blakademics on International Women's Day
During my undergrad I went to countless ceremonies where all the students who were awarded or recognised for their academic prowess through their years of study were men. While Blak men being represented in academia is a powerful thing – these systems were built to exclude us as Blak people. It’s not often acknowledged that so much of what’s been achieved by Blakademics can only be done because a Blak woman went first.
Pride… and protest
Sandy O'Sullivan responds to Lidia Thorpe's protest action at Mardi Gras and speaks to the history of, and continuing need for, protest alongside celebration. Pride celebrations across the world are sites of protest, born of challenges to a system in which we do not belong. It’s an anti-establishment activism that Indigenous people and queer people share. And for queer Indigenous people, this fight is often central to our right to exist.
Lifelines: Reaching out in a pandemic
By Sandy O'Sullivan. **Trigger warning: discussion of suicidal ideation in this article**
As we bump-in the 2022 Mardi Gras exhibition, Deadly/Solid/Staunch, on a hot summer’s day in early February we don’t have many of the pieces yet. What we do have creates the skeleton of the exhibition including beautiful textile pieces by Boomalli senior artist Uncle Jeffrey Samuels and a handful of other pieces by emerging artists such as Nola Taylor.
KOORI GRAS is a radical celebration of sparkling defiance
KOORI GRAS is a radical celebration of sparkling defiance. Here is a brief history of its inception, with photographs by Jamie James. The beginning happened quite by accident.
Black Lives Matter – A Brisbane Blacks Manifesto - Chelsea Watego - IndigenousX
When we say our sovereignty was never ceded – this is what it sounds like. This year’s NAIDOC Theme ‘Always was, always will be’ recognises the unceded sovereignty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who were here on this continent since the first sunrise. Despite over two centuries of unbridled colonial violence from a society built upon the idea that we did not exist, we continue to proclaim our presence, everyday and everywhere.
The future is non-Indigenous
This year I applied for a Future Fellowship through the Australian Research Council. The success rate is low, only a hundred are appointed nationwide against the many hundreds of researchers who apply and I was aware that my chances were slim. ARC grants – one of the main sources of research funding from the Australian Government – have a far lower participation rate by Indigenous applicants, although there is a push to increase our participation across all schemes.
The Future is non-Indigenous
This year I applied for a Future Fellowship through the Australian Research Council. The success rate is low, only a hundred are appointed nationwide against the many hundreds of researchers who apply and I was aware that my chances were slim. ARC grants – one of the main sources of research funding from the Australian Government – have a far lower participation rate by Indigenous applicants, although there is a push to increase our participation across all schemes.
As queer Indigenous people we know a thing or two about days of action - IDAHOBIT
Today is IDAHOBIT, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia. This year, at the age of 53, I came out as a transgender person. For many years I’ve identified as a lesbian and I’ve written about the experience of being Aboriginal and queer but I never expected to be faced with a realization about my gender this late in life. It was terrifying and wonderful. Specifically, I have come out as a non-binary person, where I don’t identify as either female or male.
Pauline Hanson and the origins of 'it's OK to be white'
Apparently Pauline Hanson is planning to move a motion in the senate today that the senate acknowledge: a) The deplorable rise of anti-white racism and attacks on Western civilisation. b) It is okay to be white. Pauline Hanson is going to move in a motion in the Senate on Thursday that “it is ok to be white”.
Protests and parades: being queer and Indigenous
OPINION | Academic, Dr Sandy O'Sullivan first attended the Mardi Gras parade 33 years ago, she reflects on some of the growth and change she has seen in this time. For the next few weeks across Sydney there will be a mainstream festival that celebrates LGBTIQ* identities, with life-affirming events, socio-political moments, and a parade that proudly shows off the diversity of our lives.
The object not the author
Universities are in the business of creating specific spaces where knowledge is held and attributed according to their own requirements, and they explicitly operate using these practices. For academics there is a publish or perish imperative that drives the need to ensure your name appears on publications. As a senior researcher, I have it. My institution, my boss, expect me to have research work with my name attached to it.
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