An Aunty from The Lands was in
town, on her way back to her country*, staying in LA. I know this as a
colleague, the Aboriginal Liaison Officer, was handing out ‘artefacts’. They
were free. Balsa wood with the smell of burnt wood from the work she had done
on it. I chose the animal. I was told by my colleague it’s a cultural tadpole.
All the kids got one too, she is out on the street doing them, he explains. The
kids are loving it.
Hours later, a bony, poorly
dressed young woman accosts the group of 4 white women that I am part of. It’s
on dusk. Wanna buy this artefact, she mumbles, not making eye contact.
Immediately one of the guests in town, says “yes, how much.” With no
negotiation, discussion or story telling about the vaguely crocodile shaped
balsa wood in her small hand, there is a mumble of “10.” Two of the women I am
with, scramble to pool their cash and buy the item. The woman who spoke first
takes the artefact, looking pleased.
The quickest turnaround of the
balsa wood, for a profit? The glee on her young face was not disguised, as she
raced off. No money goes to the generous old Aunty who had been sharing her
cultural heritage earlier that day, by making the many varied critters and
creatures.
Selling ‘artefacts’ to white
fellas is not the easiest way to humbug. The desperation for money is likely
alcoholism but not always; the Aboriginal bush camp itinerants’ situation is
complex and over 100 years old now. Humbugging for money is definitely easier
with balsa wood to trade than being emptied handed. Sometimes the Aboriginal visitors to LA get
the jackpot like with these two new white visitors to town but from locals of
any cultural background they mostly get a polite no and probably an angrier
response if they persist in begging for cash.
* ‘country’ in this context means
ancestral ties to particular land that applies to a recognised connection
between an area and a specific Aboriginal group
