Cultural influence
The personal life of Jared Thomas very much informs his teaching and research as a lecturer at UniSA’s David Unaipon College of Indigenous Education and Research.
A member of the Nukunu people of the Southern Flinders Ranges, Thomas says that Nukunu land and culture is at the centre of his academic pursuits. One project sees Thomas and his family working with UniSA’s Innovation Research Cluster to provide engagement with more than 4500 hectares of Nukunu People’s Council properties.
The project will investigate how connection to country contributes to wellbeing. It will begin with environmental and cultural valuation of Nukunu land conducted by UniSA staff and students. This research will underpin planning of a series of UniSA excursions to Nukunu country in 2010.
"My uncle Kym Thomas who is the Coordinator of the Aboriginal Health Unit of UniSA’s Spencer Gulf Rural Health School, regularly conducts cultural awareness sessions, taking UniSA staff and students to the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands," Thomas said.
"It will be excellent for UniSA staff and students, especially international students, to be able to experience land and culture much closer to the Whyalla and Adelaide campuses.
"Nukunu believe that healthy land equates to healthy people and sharing knowledge helps to retain it. We see UniSA engagement with Nukunu country as a way to ensure that Nukunu people continue to care for country and share knowledge of culture.
"Ultimately I’d like to see some programs operating on a regular basis on the property, with things like orientation camps and excursions linked to student learning, and residencies and retreats for professional and academic staff made available."
Jared Thomas also uses his personal experiences in his other job as a novelist, writing about the importance of Nukunu land and culture. His book Sweet Guy was shortlisted for the 2009 South Australian Writers Festival People’s Choice Award for Literature while his latest work in progress, Calypso Summers, recently featured in a BBC World Service documentary.
"I began writing Calypso Summers in response to criticism of Aboriginal youth adopting American cultural influences such as hip-hop," Thomas said.
"Through spending time in Asia, America, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean, I found that this phenomena is not isolated to Aboriginal youth.
"Nukunu country is arid so as a child I was fascinated with the tropical beauty of Jamaica and had always wanted to spend time there. Like the central character in Calypso Summers, my interest in Jamaica sprung from a love of One Day International Cricket and reggae music. So it was surprising to meet young Jamaicans who see Australian life as idyllic due to their knowledge of Australia through watching cricket."
Thomas believes that globalisation and popular culture contributes to many young people not being comfortable in their own skin and wanting to be someone and somewhere else.
"I’m a person with Aboriginal and European heritage who grew up with Star Wars, BMX bikes and computer games. But luckily I still value Nukunu culture and hope to share it with others."