The Duality of My Identity
I need to preface this with the fact that what I am writing about is my experience and my experience alone. I realise that I cannot speak on this issue for anyone but myself. All I have set out to do is pen down my own set of circumstances and experiences. My Indigenous identity is something I have struggled with a lot. Constantly trying to figure out exactly where I fit in the whole spectrum of things. I have watched as my siblings have confidently spoken on issues where I have felt like it is not my place. I do not want to be that person anymore. I am hoping this is a step in the right direction. I am eight years old sitting at a long white desk. There are about 15 other kids sitting in the same room at the same desks staring at the same piece of paper as me. All we have to do is fill out the front page for a practice test for our Year 3 NAPLAN. I fill out my full name. Tiana Michelle Smyth. I stare at the only other section that needs to be filled out. I