He didn’t want to be a surgeon.
Not a driver.
Nor a clerk.
He didn’t really have a job role in mind, only a goal.
To be the man that wasn’t there for him as a child, for as many other people as possible.
Now 9 years sober, a deeply loved father, husband and business owner, Jason May, a proud Wiradjuri man (News South Wales, Australia), is positively moulding an entire race of people, adults and children, to get to know themselves, accept and love themselves. Believe in themselves, heal themselves and rise above a modern day history containing more than 200 years of barbaric suppression. Today he is the owner of Bawamarra Consulting and Central Coast Men’s Wellbeing Circle through which he has thoughtfully worked himself up to be the inspirational role model within a community that he never had. For men’s voices. For women’s voices. For children’s voices. For indigenous voices. A family healer. A cultural man. A proud man.
The circumstances of Jason’s childhood presented him with little inspiration to be where he is right now in life. Rather a whole lot more of everything he didn’t like and look up to.
It’s unfortunately common for Indigenous families to grow disconnected in Australia. Most of their pre colonisation history has been either suppressed or destroyed, which leaves a large majority for generations, unable to even connect to themselves in their own homeland. The psychological effects that still ripple in strength through to our time are gastronomical. Jason grew up showered in glowing love from his mother, but with no father at home, and as one of the only children identifying as Aboriginal in his school in a time less understanding than now, he felt dehumanised by fellow children’s bullying and fell subject to his later reflections.
“I guess when I was a kid I didn’t know what it feels like. Human. Like you wouldn’t have known that I was one…
…even if a little bit of what I do makes a difference for one person, that’s so important.
Emotional intelligence blossomed ahead of other kids his age and knowing the figures around him, Jason sought wisdom from deep reflections, environment analysis and past indigenous elders such as Bennelong.
Bennelong is considered one of the most important figures in Aboriginal history for the huge part he played in their cultures survival through…….kindness. —Click his name to learn about one of the most significant and notable Australians in history and his efforts to share language, and culture with the British under the intention of a good relationship with integrated society.
Carrying the same levels of urgency as his ancestors before him for a peaceful reconciliation with both oneself and the rest of the world, he won the destination programme and the freedom in psychology to teach in schools, the Aboriginal voice, the importance of learning and togetherness.
As he dove deeper and deeper into his work and himself, Indigenous families began to reach out for his cultural guidance and council. His game is to teach people how to build resilience and confidence so they are better equipped to deal with life later on. Since the founding of Bawamarra Consulting one year ago, Jason has been able to travel and raise his hands in the air with pride as a witness to generational development that has been kicked into gear as a result of people like himself, standing up to create it.
“We want to have some fun! The older kids in high school, we’ll get them doing their own research. Getting into the given topic to really find it out of themselves. So rather than talking to them all the time and boring them about whatever the topic is of information we’re giving them, we make it sort of fun for them. Engage them and they’ll retain it, but it’s also like anything else, its repetition. Just an odd mention here and there about indigenous culture won’t do.” Jason Explained.
In Australia, they have over 250 different languages, with over 800 dialects. Language is sparsely taught in schools and has faded away in most parts of the country. Noting that he didn’t have even one Aboriginal teacher when he was at school, Jason is enforcing a worker education system to provide more region specific tailored language lessons for all children.
“If i’m teaching away from home, I always acknowledge that I’m not from that land and that I’ll be teaching about my homeland which is Wiradjuri, Wellington NSW. I already know where those teachings have come from.”
With the Indigenous voice getting stronger and more present in the Australian government, Jason among many are living with a swell of enthusiasm for their futures. The country has seen a peak in indigenous engagement with businesses and education as more opportunities present themselves as honestly attainable.
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“I’m so happy that it’s actually moving forward after so long, and I’m pretty sure that any opposition that’s coming forward is just going to be smacked out of the park. I’m really excited to see that (our voice) getting in. I think if we are able to pass that and it becomes something, that’s a little bit more for the time of yesterday.”
Most parties and the population are welcoming the Indigenous voice with open arms, a liberal opposition can’t even distract their miteful climb towards cultural dignity for a blink of an eye.
2023 is the year of growth for Australia’s Indigenous community. Jason has opened up a space for men, women and children to feel vulnerable and connected to themselves. Through his own reflections and self motivation, he became exactly what his country and family needed him to be.
