Preface: OGA Voices — The Challenge of True Solidarity
The mission of OGA Voices is founded on a principle that demands we operate from a place of profound solidarity, rather than charity or a savior complex. We champion the knowledge and thought leaders who have historically been relegated to the margins. This commitment is guided by the wisdom embodied in the famous phrase used by Dr. Lilla Watson, an Indigenous Murri elder, academic, and activist. We use her sentence daily as a core reminder of our purpose:
“If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”
Dr. Lilla Watson (b. 1940) is a Gangulu woman (an Aboriginal people from Queensland, one of the First Nations of the Sahul Continent) and a pioneering figure in the Murri struggle for justice. Her activism of many decades, spanning academia, lecture halls, art, and direct community action, fundamentally changed how non-Indigenous Australians engaged with the struggle for sovereignty.
Lilla Watson’s work challenges the foundation of colonialism. She prefers to credit the famous quote to the Aboriginal Activists Group, Queensland, 1970s, highlighting that this profound wisdom is born of collective political thought, not individual genius.
Her contributions are immense:
- Academic Pioneer: She was the first Aboriginal tutor at the University of Queensland (UQ), where she developed crucial interdisciplinary courses on Aboriginal perspectives in social work.
- Policy and Community: She led landmark research that contributed to major policy changes and co-founded Link-Up Queensland—an essential agency dedicated to reuniting members of the Stolen Generations with their families and Country.
- Art and Epistemology: She is also a recognized visual artist, utilizing innovative mediums to convey her spiritual connection to the land, thereby reinforcing that Indigenous knowledge is a sophisticated and living epistemology.
The Anti-Colonial Core of the Message
This sentence is vital because it flips the traditional paternalistic model of “aid” and “charity”—where the helper is superior to the helped—into a framework of shared political and human necessity:
- Critique of Paternalism: Lilla Watson’s words reject the notion of the “savior complex.” When the privileged try to “help” the marginalized, they often seek moral absolution without confronting the systemic issues that grant them their privilege. This only perpetuates the colonial structure.
- Affirmation of Non-Separation: The statement asserts that racism, oppression, and injustice are not siloed problems. The liberation of the oppressed is intrinsically tied to the spiritual and political liberation of the oppressor. It demands that we see our struggles as interconnected and transnational.
Why OGA Uses Her Sentence
The quote is central to our mission because it rejects the vertical relationship of helper and helped, demanding a horizontal, political alignment.
As a platform amplifying voices from the Global South, OGA recognizes that the oppression faced by Indigenous Australians is interconnected with the structural racism and imperialism Lélia Gonzalez described through her concept of Amefricanity. Our collective liberation from the forces of planetary destruction requires this shared political vision.
Lilla Watson’s message demands that those with historical privilege stop seeing their role as charity and start seeing it as a necessity for their own healing—a necessity born of historical responsibility.
Action and Solidarity
To truly honor this wisdom is to practice it. Join us in making the commitment:
- Explore Decolonial Thought: Read more essential voices in our OGA Voices series.
- Support Reunification: Learn more about the critical healing work done by Link-Up Queensland.
- Practice Recognition: Ensure your activism is grounded in true solidarity, not paternalism.
Links and Essential Resources
- Link-Up Queensland (Official Site): https://www.link-upqld.org.au/–
- OGA Voices Series
- Lilla Watson’s Official UQ Profile: Dr Lilla Watson – Alumni and Community (University of Queensland)
