Too often I find a gem like Ruby too late on National Indigenous Television.
The long time partner of a famous musician Archy Roach, I am saddened to tell you that our nation knows very little about Ruby Hunter.
Why is she not remembered as a national treasure?
She has toured the world, played with the likes of Tracy Chapman and Bob Dylan.
She met her partner Archy Roach as a homeless teenager.
She was one of the many stolen generation of indigenous Australian children.
Children were forcibly taken from their families to effect assimilation into white culture. This continued up until the 1970s.
Ruby was stolen from her mother by the government at the age of 8.
The number of children from indigenous families who are in out of home care and separated from their family, language, traditions and culture remains alarming disproportionate.
The policy that was designed to wipe out thousands of years of culture and tradition had and still has a devastating effect on lives.
In spite of these heinous crimes, these policies failed to take the spirit and family away from the oldest remaining cultures on earth.
Ruby fostered over 30 children and was known to many as Aunty Ruby.
She worked tirelessly to advocate for the stolen generation, to protect the next generation and to nurture culture and country through music and love.
This final tribute was performed by Archy Roach and posted to YouTube by there grandson Wesley Brigham.
Wesley continues the work of his grandmother.
Supporting young hip-hop artists and the older generation's R and B.
“Whatever people have inside them, I want to get it out there.”
Archy Roach sings Kutjeri Lady.
The Rock Against Racism concert in Melbourne 10th July 2010.
A tribute to his wife and soul mate, just months after her death. She was only 54 when she died.
References.
NITV
https://m.facebook.com/TheRubyHunterFoundation/
https://www.australianstogether.org.au/discover/australian-history/stolen-generations
