Proud Waanyi man Otis Carmichael says the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit became a second home during his Information Technology degree at The University of Queensland.
Otis expressed his gratitude while delivering a student address for the mid-year Indigenous Sashing Ceremony on 4 July 2023.
He did so with a voice strained by celebrations after the Goorie Berrimpa (Indigenous student collective) triumph at the UniSport Indigenous Nationals – UQ’s first overall victory in the 27-year history of the event.
Otis said he always knew he was Aboriginal through memories of his ‘kukudi ngada’ (great-grandmother) and the stories he was told of her being taken from her family as a child.
“However, whenever I mentioned this part of who I was around people at school it would sort of get laughed off, with teachers even correcting me that I wasn’t really Indigenous,” he said.
“Throughout high school I slowly started to learn more about my own identity, however I still felt lost; looking around my inner-city school I couldn’t see anyone else that would understand what I was feeling.
“After graduating, I ended up choosing to study Information Technology here at UQ because I was terrified about having to make decisions about my future … three-year degree I thought, smash it out and go home. Four and a half years later I had no idea what I was in for.
“My first semester was a big transition, obviously, but I didn’t really check in with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Unit much.
“I remember imagining walking in and getting laughed out of the building for ‘not really being Aboriginal’ … my old teacher’s words echoing in my head.
“The only reason this changed was because of Kayla Curry, who I’m sure most of you are aware of. She reached out and invited me to a picnic Goorie was having, where I met the mob and finally realised I wasn’t such an outsider.
“I’ll never forget the generosity of Kayla and the rest of Goorie Berrimpa for welcoming me and decided in that moment that I wanted to do the same for other students.
“The ATSIS Unit became my second home. Knowing I was heading in to see some of my closest friends, and I guess attend my classes, got me to campus when nothing else would have.
“This sense of belonging instilled a powerful gratitude in me, that I sought to repay as soon as possible. I put my hand up to help out Goorie Berrimpa as a promotional officer, and then representative, volunteering within the Union to get our collective the resources we needed and put on events that would bring us all together.
“This was one of the more difficult things I’ve done, trying to balance all the great things I wanted to create whilst also pursuing my studies.
“This drive resulted in some inevitable challenges along the way. I was moments away from dropping out after having my confidence shattered by some courses I simply wasn’t prepared for. I started seeing myself as someone who didn’t belong at University - a feeling I had fought to dispel in the students I’d mentored or tutored to help support them in their studies.
“However, this low point was perhaps the best part of my journey, as it opened me to other opportunities and I took a chance to work with native ingredients, learning about our culinary traditions and rebuilding my self-confidence whilst connecting to a whole new set of communities.
“This openness enabled me to pursue a Summer Research opportunity to work with Mary Laughren on assembling a dictionary for my Waanyi mob’s language.
“It was so rewarding listening to recordings of Elders and ensuring that their knowledge and our language would be preserved. It sparked an excitement for how I could contribute to helping our mob learn our language, that has shaped my future direction.
“Post-graduation, I am headed to the Indigenous Language and Technology conference (with the support of the University) where I will be presenting my own learnings working with language as well as presenting as a part of my team, LDaCA, as we are working to support researchers to preserve Indigenous languages.
“Looking back at the moments that stand out most: our mob travelling away to compete (and slay) at Indigenous Nationals tournaments, hosting the Goorie Berrimpa NAIDOC Ball and, of course, the games of cards in the Unit, it all comes back to the people.
“That’s where the magic is; proud blackfellas inspiring and pushing one another to succeed, all with the goal of using their knowledge to help the community that we all owe so much.
“Thank you to all the staff of the ATSIS Unit, looking at you Aunty Tracey, for embracing me and always having my back. I know we’re useless at expressing it but we appreciate everything you do so much.
“Break down the barriers between staff and students. Ask the officers what ideas they’ve got or have heard people talking about. The most important thing I learned the hard way about representing our mob is that we rock up when the ideas are coming from us. Keep talking, keep the people involved.
“And if there are any future or current students here, or for those who will return, I really encourage you to get involved with Goorie Berrimpa, whether it’s coming to the social nights for a feed or hanging out in the Unit.
“There are so many students who have been motivated to achieve amazing things by being surrounded by deadly students who understand you. Just make sure you know your way around a deck of cards.
“So, to that school leaver, that lost kid; seek out the community that understands you; trust them.
“When your gut pulls you towards something, don’t resist but also don’t let your vision narrow and miss out on different opportunities and directions. These passions will end up supporting one another, giving you a unique perspective into the worlds you walk in. And let a desire to give back guide you."
Otis would like to acknowledge Eban Escott from Codebots for their scholarship support.
His career goal is to begin working with technology and Indigenous languages.