Ruth Barker - Aussie Dreaming Author

Ruth Barker’s lifetime of experiences has in one way or another, revolved around Australia’s indigenous culture.

Born in 1949 in the then sleepy, sub-tropical city of Brisbane, Australia, she was the child of devoutly religious parents who spent their time administering to the spiritual needs and welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

At 5 years of age, she was abducted by a prison escapee while on her way home from school. Unfortunately, after she had been located, police removed her from her parents.

The lasting effect of this traumatic experience stayed with her for many years and she says she truly knows what indigenous children have been through when they too were removed from their families to be placed with white foster families and well-meaning religious institutions of their day.

In time, the family moved to the delightful Brisbane Bayside suburb of Wynnum. By then, Ruth’s parents had formed friendships with Aboriginal and Islander families and she delighted in their children’s company when they were invited to stay at weekends and during school holidays.

“They were supposed to be learning from me, but now I regret that I learned so little from them,” she says.

At 18, the family packed up and moved to Lubbock, Texas. Here she attended Lubbock Christian College. Her family’s earlier involvement with Australia’s indigenous people became the subject of many in-depth discussions with friends and classmates. “They were continually asking about our Aboriginal culture and likening it with that of the American Indians,” Ruth said. “It was then that I realised just how little I knew of our own Aboriginal culture and I determined to study it more closely when I returned to Australia.”

Returning to Brisbane in 1970, she found herself surrounded by a ‘new age’ culture. Wherever she looked she found plenty of examples of American Indian culture; clothing, music, dream catchers and a host of mystical Indian paraphernalia, but there was almost no indigenous Australian material available. “There was no knowledge of our traditional culture and apart from some very expensive souvenirs in the city’s tourist outlets, no real interest.” It was at this time that Ruth decided that if no one else was going to do it, she’d start researching and promoting our aboriginal culture.

Ruth married in 1971 and with her new husband, had soon produced four children, a girl and three boys. Unfortunately, each of their children suffered from ill health of one form or another. Western medical treatment was providing little help and in desperation, she and her husband sought more information about the traditional treatments and cures used by indigenous people.

This was not easy, as information of this kind is not written: Rather, it has been handed down to carefully selected and trusted tribal members from one generation to another over thousands of years.

The family moved to Queensland’s Gold Coast in early 1980, settling on a small acreage at Nerang. Here they raised wheat grass and other natural herbal treatments and somewhat miraculously, the majority of their children’s ailments immediately began to clear.

With her children reaching adulthood, Ruth had more time to devote to what has become her lifelong passion: For over eight years, she has intensively researched and collated more information about Aboriginal culture and cures.

“Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture is extremely valuable and fascinating,” she says. “However, as the influence of modern society encroaches upon these indigenous communities, much of their knowledge and skills is being lost.”

“I’ve been appalled by the prejudices I’ve witnessed, the misinformation that’s been peddled and our lack of understanding of this fascinating culture.

“When you think about it, Australia’s indigenous people were driven from their lands, herded onto mission stations and more latterly, allowed and at times actively encouraged to wallow in their own self-pity.

“Our society created an almost hopeless situation where, in the past, there has been little or no respect for Aboriginal beliefs, no recognition of Aboriginal marriage, and children have been forcibly removed from their families.”

Ruth believes our children offer the greatest hope for genuine reconciliation.

“Children have no prejudices and few past experiences, so what they learn now they will carry with them in the years to come,” she says.