Why we yarn about fishing through this Guide

Uncle Jimmy always says the best learning comes through stories about things we know. That’s why in this guide, we talk about politics and democracy through fishing – something our mob has done forever on Country.

Think about when we go fishing:

• We check our gear before we start, just like we need to get ready to have our say in democracy
• We know different spots for different fish, just like different levels of government handle different things
• Sometimes we fish with lines, sometimes with nets – just like there’s different ways to vote
• When we use the net, everyone has to work together, just like how democracy needs everyone to participate
• We read the water to know where the fish are, just like we need to understand what’s happening in community
• We share what we catch, just like how government decisions should benefit everyone
• We look after our fishing spots for future generations, just like we need to keep our democratic voice strong for the young ones coming up

Uncle Jimmy reckons that just like you wouldn’t go fishing without checking the tides, you shouldn’t make decisions about community without proper knowledge. And just like how our old people taught us to fish proper way, this guide will help you learn about having your say proper way.

 Through each part of this guide, fishing stories help us understand:

• Getting ready to vote
• Different ways to have your say
• How decisions get made
• Working together for community
• Looking after our rights
• Sharing knowledge with others

Sometimes DJ asks why we talk about fishing when we’re learning about politics. Uncle Jimmy always tells him: “When you fish, you’re not just catching tucker – you’re learning about reading signs, working together, sharing resources, and looking after Country. That’s what democracy should be too – reading what’s happening, working together, sharing decisions, and looking after community.”

So as you go through this guide, think about how our traditional ways of fishing – passed down through generations – can help us understand and be part of decisions that affect our mob today. Because just like we’ve always known the right way to fish, we need to know the right way to have our say.