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The mission songs project
Shanysa McConville
Content warning: this piece contains references to deceased persons, outdates terms generated to stigmatise First Nations people, and the forceful relocation of Blak people onto settlements, missions and reserves.
Led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musician and producer Jessie Lloyd, the Mission Songs Project explores the reality of life during the ‘missions era’, when Indigenous people were removed from their Country and relocated onto settlements, missions and reserves throughout Australia. Jessie has travelled across the country gathering information from communities and Elders about song traditions during this time and contemporary Indigenous music. She has released ten songs selected from the plethora of music documented throughout her journey, all of which were produced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on settlements in the 20th century. I was fortunate enough to come on board with the Project for a short time in the middle of the year, collecting archival material (chiefly images, legislative documents, maps and videos) relating to each song. Understanding where these songs were composed, the living conditions of the settlement, the state or territory regulations controlling Indigenous people at the time, the composer’s personal history, and the community engaging with this music is vital to understanding the meaning and significance of these songs.
I strongly encourage everyone to familiarise themselves with the Project and take a listen to the following songs. 1. OWN NATIVE LAND Own Native Land was written by Albie Geia shortly after leading the 1957 strike on Palm Island with six other Indigenous men. The strike was against the discriminatory treatment of Indigenous people, after a petition to the superintendent demanding improved wages, health, housing and working conditions, was ignored. As punishment, Albie and his family were removed to Woorabinda, Queensland. 2. OUTCAST HALF-CASTE Outcast Half-Caste was written by Micko Donovan and Mary Deroux of northern New South Wales about growing up as a ‘half-caste’. Micko was raised on a mission and learned to play music from the local missionaries. 3. THE IREX The Irex was the boat that transported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from the mainland settlements to the Palm Island Aboriginal Settlement in Queensland.
