Kath Walker, also known as Oodgeroo Noonuccal, was an Indigenous Australian poet and political activist. Her poem “We Are Going” (1964) is a powerful reflection on the suffering and dispossession of Aboriginal people as a result of European colonization. The statement that the poem “depicts the murder of an entire civilization and way of life” is not only accurate but central to the meaning and emotional weight of the poem. Through her poetic expression, Walker paints a vivid picture of the destruction of Indigenous culture, identity, and traditions, as well as the devastating impact of colonization on Aboriginal communities.
1. Thematic Focus on Dispossession
“We Are Going” addresses the dispossession of Aboriginal land and the erasure of their culture. The title itself, “We Are Going,” suggests the inevitable loss and displacement of the Aboriginal people from their ancestral lands. The poem highlights the destructive force of colonization that has caused the physical and cultural disintegration of Aboriginal communities. The use of the word “going” implies a sense of departure or exile, symbolizing how Aboriginal people are pushed away from their land, their heritage, and their way of life.
The idea of a “murdered civilization” is depicted through the imagery of the Aboriginal way of life being wiped out by the forces of colonization. Walker’s voice in the poem is that of the dispossessed Aboriginal people, who now witness the destruction of their land and culture, with no way to reverse the damage that has been done. The poem speaks directly to the loss of the traditional social structures, customs, and spiritual practices that once defined Aboriginal identity, as well as the devastating psychological and emotional toll that this loss inflicted on Indigenous people.
2. Colonization as a Destructive Force
Walker’s poem underscores the destructive effects of colonization on Indigenous communities. Throughout the poem, she refers to the way in which white settlers have invaded and dispossessed Aboriginal people of their land, as well as the alienation and trauma caused by this process. The invasion is not just physical but also cultural, leading to a complete disruption of the Aboriginal people’s way of life. The European settlers, who imposed their own language, culture, and religion on the land, effectively “murdered” an entire civilization by forcing the Indigenous people to abandon their traditional ways.
The poem serves as a poignant reminder that colonization is not just about the appropriation of land; it is also about the obliteration of values, language, and spirituality. The poem illustrates the emotional and psychological destruction wrought by the loss of cultural continuity. The fact that the Indigenous people’s history, traditions, and ways of living are now threatened with extinction makes the colonization process feel like the killing of a civilization.
3. The Personal and Collective Loss
In “We Are Going,” the speaker represents not just an individual loss but the collective loss experienced by the entire Aboriginal community. The poem’s tone is mournful, and the refrain “we are going” signifies not only the physical displacement but the spiritual dislocation of the Indigenous people. Through the speaker’s voice, Walker conveys the sense of an entire people being forced into dispossession, and this loss is not only material but also deeply emotional.
Walker’s use of the first-person plural pronoun, “we,” reflects a collective consciousness, symbolizing the shared experience of dispossession and cultural destruction. The poem’s narrative voice captures the trauma of not just one individual but an entire community that is experiencing the disintegration of its way of life. The Aboriginal people are not merely displaced from their land but are also removed from the cultural identity that had sustained them for centuries.
4. Impact of Western Civilization on Aboriginal Identity
The “murder of an entire civilization and way of life” is particularly evident in the way the poem critiques Western civilization. The “we” of the poem represents the Aboriginal people, who are being pushed aside by the forces of European colonialism. This powerful sense of loss is exacerbated by the fact that the colonizers’ world, Western civilization, imposes its own set of values and beliefs on the Indigenous people, forcing them to abandon their own language, customs, and beliefs.
Walker is acutely aware of how Western civilization, with its values of progress, individualism, and materialism, is in direct contrast to the communal and holistic worldview that Aboriginal people had developed over thousands of years. The murder of the Aboriginal way of life is, therefore, not just a physical destruction of land but an epistemic destruction, where Indigenous knowledge systems, ways of life, and values are systematically erased or disregarded.
5. The Poem as a Form of Protest and Resistance
“We Are Going” is not just a lament for the destruction of Aboriginal culture; it is also a form of resistance and protest against the forces of colonization. Walker uses the poem to speak out against the injustice and inequality faced by Aboriginal Australians in a world dominated by white colonial powers. By giving a voice to the dispossessed, the poem becomes an act of reclamation and resilience, asserting the existence and rights of Aboriginal people even as their way of life is under threat.
Through her poetry, Walker challenges the dominant colonial narrative that has sought to silence Indigenous voices. “We Are Going” refuses to let the voices of the dispossessed fade into silence. It acknowledges the cultural trauma of colonization but also asserts the need for recognition and respect of Indigenous people’s humanity and heritage. The poem serves as a reminder that while the violence of colonization may have caused immense damage, it has not erased the presence and continuing struggles of Aboriginal people.
6. Conclusion
Kath Walker’s “We Are Going” is an evocative and poignant portrayal of the murder of an entire civilization and way of life. It speaks to the profound loss of land, culture, and identity that Aboriginal people endured under colonization. The poem’s power lies in its ability to convey both the individual and collective sorrow of the dispossession of Indigenous people, while also standing as a defiant assertion of their continued existence, resilience, and right to be heard. Walker’s message is clear: colonization did not simply take away land; it destroyed an entire way of life, and the scars of that destruction continue to shape the lives of Aboriginal people.