iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

G'day mates,

I've been trying to catch up on years worth of great forum talk and have to say something about the new emergency fundraiser that iDIDJ is sponsoring right now on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWZEkRaPGcw

Though I agree with most of you that giving money is not the answer (previous posts) or we "need to teach Aboriginals to "fish", etc... I must say that THIS fundraiser is for the good of all Aboriginals and I support it 100%.
I think that it's noble that there are people (iDIDJ) in this world doing something, anything to bring to us all that is on this site from didgeridoos to culture to language and for free. More importantly, another avenue to keep Aboriginal peoples alive. The least we could do is donate something as small as the cost of a cup of coffee to a few hundred bucks to the emergency fundraiser.
TV programs do it, radio stations do it, corporations do it... it's called sponsors. Without the funds, the things you enjoy most with this site will be gone and I'm not talking about the forum or videos from iDIDJ, I'm talking about the people in them. You read about their deaths. You know the names and maybe you don't but you still feel the loss. You can do something about it!
Look what iDIDJ has done for Aboriginal peoples. You read the stories, listen to the music, and watch the YouTube videos. What you don't realize is the time and effort it takes to prepare, travel, and do all this work in the field. Yes, many have done this before but has anyone done the amount of work iDIDJ has? Is there anyone out there that continues to do this? My point is, iDIDJ is legit and the fundraiser will be used in the best interest of those who need emergency help.
If we as people, living all around the world, continue to just sit back and watch these people die, who do you think will save them? The Australian Govt? Themselves? Maybe, but we can still do something to get the ball rolling.

I don't have much to offer but I can at least go to sleep at night knowing that I threw in my two cents and I mean that literally. Folks, it doesn't cost much to save a person's life. If everyone threw in the cost of a cup of coffee, just a cup of coffee and multiplied that times the number of members in here, well, iDIDJ would be able to offer services to many who can't afford it or at least help pay for the services. This is for emergency purposes and NOT for something senseless. Honestly, even if it was for a tank of gas to have more awesome YouTube videos of something we haven't seen or heard in the Aboriginal community, it would be worth it. How else would we be able to see it? To experience it? To learn it?

So, if I am wrong about my thinking or what I believe, then please, in all honesty tell me where I am wrong. If trust is the issue, then tell me who I should be wary of and for what reason. If it is because of other reasons then say so. I simply would like to know why you as didge players and learners are not giving back. We're all adults here just tell me.
I look forward to reading that in the end, many of you donated something to the fundraiser and not just kind words. The fundraiser is a good one and I believe iDIDJ will do what is best for those in need. We read about their effort on a daily basis of what goes on in this forum and in the field. I have never been in the bush but I can relate to the difficulties every Aboriginal faces and that is hard enough.
Cheers,

How's Darryl's health by now, Guan ?
Got any better ? (hopefully...)

I've created a topic on French Didj Forum ... maybe you can count on a little more money.

I'd like to know why this is your default position.

Many of us give back in different ways, by purchasing instruments from Ididj and other ethical dealers and through supporting fundraising efforts like this one Guan has set up if, of course, one is able to do so.

I acknowledge your enthusiasm here Eric, however I feel your post reads more like a lecture or sermon than you perhaps intended.

Urg, Eric... just saw on your website all that fake Aboriginal art your doing on pvc pipes, and fake body painting as well...
Try and learn more on Aboriginal culture, and you will see that this is disrespectful, despite your probably good intensions...

Anyway, your post may have boosted up the donations, and thats good.

Yes, without meaning to do so you may well be disrespecting many Yolngu clans by painting yourself in this manner. There was an incident a few years back where some other guys in Florida were publicly performing painted up in a similar manner and Djalu Gurruwiwi and other Galpu Clan members were very upset with this as Clan-specific totemic imagery was being 'borrowed'. Following some heated discourse on many online forums and discussions between the two parties the Floridians apologised and stopped this practice.

I would suggest that you cease to paint yourself up in this manner in the future to avoid such a situation arising with yourself.

The Aboriginal style painted PVC instruments you're making and selling are also infringing on copyright. Why not paint them in your own style? If someone wants an Aboriginal instrument they won't be purchasing a length of PVC for $100 so why try and make it look like the real thing?

This may help convince you

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/A ... 95/13.html

Paul

Hi Eric,

Thanks for leading the post and for bringing up the topic here. And everyone else, leave Eric alone, he's a newbie here! How about a few friendly welcomes first, very rude of us, naughty naughty!

Anyway, I won't write much but just wanted to point out a new page I've put up:

http://www.ididj.com.au/ididjphilanthropy.html

Please let me know if you have any comments, ideas, criticisms, etc. Any and all feedback welcomed.

Kyle, I hear your point about giving back in different ways, you're right, there is no one way to give back and each of us do what we can when we can. I would point out that at iDIDJ Australia, we do not aim at being just an ethical dealer though, whatever that could mean these days, but to go beyond that. To actually have a direct and positive impact of people's lives, in as many ways as possible, above and beyond iDIDJ Australia's trading role. Hence the inspiration for iDIDJ Philanthropy, see above link.

Guan

Hi Eric,
Welcome aboard.

You were probably quite enthousiastic, on the spur of moment, when you made your point about giving back. Although your post could have been made to sound more inviting, thanks anyhow for the heads up.

But I agree with the remarks above that you had better change the way you paint yourself and your instruments. This is as important as giving back to these fellows..

Cheers to all

Mahir

Appreciate the kind, positive words guys. I asked, you gave.
Have a wonderful holiday season and I look forward to iDIDJ's 2010 continuing campaign to assist and help all Aboriginal peoples in a philanthropic way.

"What we do for ourselves dies with us.
What we do for others and the world
remains and is immortal."
-Albert Pike-

Peace,

Without a doubt there are many different ways we can all make a difference to the disadvantaged worldwide. The fact that we can communicate with each other in this manner defines us as being privileged over many others in this world. Giving money to a legitimate organization that advocates on behalf of the needy is one way that success is ensured yet we have to do very little (personally) - which is a great thing; we give money (which is difficult for us westerners because we expect something in return - that's the cash economy we've grown up with) and someone else does all the hard work. It's ideal if we live remote from the problem. So Eric's intent is commendable - welcome mate.

We can also be advocates ourselves and we can look at our own lives and ensure we are honest within ourselves in our intent and act accordingly. If we could do just one thing, such as ridding the world of fake didjes, this could surely make a difference. It may force purchases of instruments from up North - the traditional home of the instrument and no doubt, in part, it will. It's a can of worms though - instruments made by non-traditional Aboriginal people are a source of income for them too - an income necessary because we've made it so. If you're new to the didj scene you will not spend such a large amount of money, so there is a role for cheaper sticks - we probably all started on something cheap and nasty or made our own. Maybe we could just target fake didjes made by westerners and honestly, Eric I have to say this is where you confuse me because all those instruments you make and sell are a part of the problem. I can see you donate 20 percent of your sales to various charities and that's more than I do - the cynic in me wants to think this is because you can claim you are a not-for-profit organization, but I think that's most likely me being unfair.

Advocacy and assistance must come from the heart with honest intent and compassion - it cannot work like carbon offsets.

I challenge everyone of you out there to reflect upon how much you value what you get from this forum and the didj and to equate that with what you'd be prepare to pay for it - what is another's culture worth ? How much does respect cost ? It's easy to criticize others and we are often more likely to do so when we have a little guilt ourselves that we'd like to mask. If someone opens themselves to attack - should we take the opportunity ?

Yep, I can be self-righteous too - it's one of the great human failings.

I will be making a donation - please join me in helping Guan act on our behalf.

Interesting stuff happening here, but first, I'd like to join Mahir and Bita in welcoming you Eric!

People join this Forum for various reasons, but mostly to learn. And what a wonderful opportunity to do so. For someone new to this Forum, it can be daunting not knowing anyone, and to launch into an issue one is passionate about presents challenges... how are others going to react? What will they think of me? If English is a second or third language, will I be understood and will my intentions be clear? One thing that I don't want to happen is for subscribers and active Forum members to morph into lurkers - it can be a bit boring if I'm the only one who writes on here

So lurkers, de-lurk! And writers, keep on writing!

Bita, I like your post. Life is full of ironies and humans especially, all of us included.

About intellectual property and misrepresentation that was brought up, could someone point out the topics that have already been covered on this Forum? That would be a good place to start for people wanting to learn more and to understand the complexity of the issues.

One more thing... I can't claim to be helping all Aboriginal people. I can't even try, the problems are too big - and the resources can't stretch that far. But I do know where there is need and I do see disadvantage around me.

Just yesterday, when the fund-raising campaign ended (and another one started ), I received something like 12 text messages on my mobile from Jeffrey Djakurrnga and Joy Djelirr, see attachment of one of these text messages.

A loose translation in English: Bangaditjan (skin name), where are you at? (This is after several requests for money and instructions to do a bank transfer). Gela (another skin name) here is very hungry.

Transfer done and kids fed, so until the next phone call or text message from Arnhem Land, more fund-raising work to do!

Guan

Dear Guan, mate,

all the time I've known you you have been extremely generous and consistently so, often to your own detriment. It seems you make up for all that the rest of us don't do and are not prepared to do and you do things for everyone of us - me included !!. It's important that forum members know this; (don't humbug this man for discounts - everything is already at rockbottom prices). Know that when you buy something from Guan it's probably Yolngu family that are getting the benefit rather than him paying his own phone bill, flights or rent. Seriously, this man has a big heart - his humbleness and modesty means we often don't know what he is sacrificing to bring you Arnhem Land through his eyes. I can vouch for his committment and integrity; Thankyou Guan for all you do. I am honoured to have you as a friend. Sorry I am so often caught up in my own life and unable to help. Nhungu lundu, ma.

Hey Bita,

You are too kind buddy, but enough about me, let's talk philanthropy

Guan

thankyou balanggi if i had money i;ll give you too you realy helping
did you here about bapurru balanggi? always funerals here wehn will familiesstop dying?? thats the question i ask myself
god bless you garray nhokal galki marrkapmirri mit