Shareena Clanton

"To be an ally is to learn to stand beside me, not in front of me." -Shareena Clanton

Shareena Clanton is a proud Indigenous woman from Noongar Boodja (Noongar country). Her mother is Wongatha/Yamatji and Noongar/Gitja. Her father is Etowah Cherokee, Blackfoot and African American. Shareena Clanton is an actress and human rights advocate.

What's the most damaging misconception this country has about Aboriginal people?

"There's still an insurmountable amount of mysticism and tokenism surrounding Indigenous people and culture. A lot of it stems from misinformation and misconstrued, or rather ignorant ideas about what Indigenous culture and people represent. Aboriginal people are not here to be your token Indigenous friend or colleague. We are human beings and should not have to justify or plead for our own humanity. We are not here to do the emotional labour for you. We are not here to challenge and deconstruct your ignorance only to have you revert to your privilege and rage with your old fears and prejudices. We do not exist to cater towards your own fragility or the micro aggressions you uphold to exclude and separate Indigenous people, or people of colour, from the mainstream narrative and conversation.

Some of the most damaging ideologies are the ones that uphold the complete eradication of our history, of our culture, of our voice and of our people. The damage comes from the ongoing willingness to whitewash and tone police the ugly and bloody truth that exists within the foundations of White Australia."

How is the current Indigenous youth activist movement different from previous generations?

"Everything we do is about building and maintaining our legacy. Our youth are the next generation of game changers and as a result, they are aware of their responsibility to uphold and maintain the ancestral fires of our Ancestors. We are running out of time. Our people are dying at astronomical rates. What our youth are realising is that to impact the mainstream sector, to challenge the grand narrative and to help build upon our legacy you must get your qualifications. This education helps to shift the paradigm and create the opportunity to not only obliterate archaic narratives but also help platform the voices of our people.

I see an empowered and unapologetic activism that helps to raise the collective consciousness. We are not that different from our predecessors and are only building upon their activism. It's imperative we maintain the resistance and are aware of our responsibility to never allow a level of complacency to manifest in our ongoing fight for equality, justice and truth. We cannot afford to settle because the next generation is watching."

How can young, non-Indigenous people be better allies?

"To be an ally you must be willing to listen, truly listen. As an ally I will challenge everything you think you know about Indigenous people. Whether consciously aware of a bias or not, you must be willing to be brutally honest about your individual perception and relationship towards Indigenous people.

As a direct result of the foundations of White Australian ideals, ideals that are very much indoctrinated into upholding a particular elitism and power over Indigenous Australia, I want you to challenge the grand narratives that continue to perpetuate false ideologies about the history of Aboriginal Australia and the Australia that exists today. This country continues to sit on an unsettling and highly disturbing bed of untruths surrounding the 229 years of colonial occupancy and control that Indigenous Australians are still having to navigate, negotiate and challenge on a daily basis.

Your awareness to our truth will help shift the perspective lens and change the landscape. Only through education and awareness will you be able to deconstruct this elitism and power for yourself and within the wider community.

To be an ally is to learn to stand beside me, not in front of me."

-Shareena Clanton. 
Interviewed by Triana Hernandez
26 April 2017

Photography by Tasha Tylee

"I see an empowered and unapologetic activism that helps to raise the collective consciousness. We are not that different from our predecessors and are only building upon their activism. It's imperative we maintain the resistance and are aware of our responsibility to never allow a level of complacency to manifest in our ongoing fight for equality, justice and truth. We cannot afford to settle because the next generation is watching." - Shareena Clanton, read full interview featured in i-D: young, proud and aboriginal: exploring activism and allies in 2017 HERE