Native migrant narratives in an age of alchemy and activism

Abstract

This article braids our personal and political narratives to examine approaches to creative ethnography as a technique of writing for activists’ goals. Using autobricolage—mixing art, activism and ethnography—we explore narrative as a decolonising strategy to centre Indigenous ontology. The insights carry implications for how we understand and engage with the experiences of others, particularly marginalised voices. The article also offers reflections on the current climate of protest and its new opportunities for social change and solidarity. These reflections are as important for defenders of climate change as for protesters of BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo. Shared histories of colonialism and migration can potentially provide the basis for productive settler-Indigenous social relations among current and future generations. By sharing our experiences as native migrants living in Australia—Harwood from Aotearoa and Guntarik from Borneo—we show how stories reinforce one another, trigger new memories and reveal parallel politics.