Joel talks about friendship (3:15)

Friendships are – are very important within – within the school, within class, within the university, wherever, within the workplace, with anywhere.  We – we, as Indigenous students, we would attach ourselves to the other Indigenous students because we know that we have a similar background.  So as much as we may be communicating and friends with others in the class, if there’s an Indigenous, we’re usually together.  And that’s not anything to do with racism or anything, it’s a comfort zone, it’s a cultural thing.  It really is cultural that that’s how we are, like – like we like to – we like to be close with our family.  And even if you’re not blood related to me, you’re still family, like.  And, I mean, I’ve got lots of white relations that are like that too, that aren’t actual blood relations but we call each other family, so it works both ways.  But for Indigenous students it’s – you know, friendship’s a big thing.  I’ve witnessed through the music program, you know, a couple of friends were – were going together and there was three of us, and there was two – two guys that – that were just best of friends and hung out all the time.  And as soon as one left, you know, and he left for family reasons, and the other one went, “Oh well”, and he left.  And there was no reason except for his mate wasn’t coming anymore and he just – he just left.  He couldn’t think of any other reason.  I – I actually seen him at – at Centrelink, and I asked him if he was still going to uni, and “No, no, I gave that up ever since such and such left”.  And I – I do understand, because it’s – it’s lonely if – if you – if that’s your one person and they’re gone now, it’s hard.  Because that – a lot of the time in Indigenous culture we have relationships where I don’t quite understand what they’re saying, so my best mate’s going to fill me in.  And that – that’s another reason why you’ll see the Indigenous will some – a lot of the times stay close together, because I might not understand, you know, and cousy here will.  Or she might not understand and I – I’ll – I’ll be able to help her with the lecture or whatever’s finished.  So – so we – we bounce the ideals and everything off each other like that.  And when you lose that it’s – it’s – it’s hard, it’s almost like losing your sight or your – or your hearing, or your voice.  You’ve lost that – the rock, you know, your – your rock is gone and you’re no longer weighed down and you’re just floating around.  It’s – it is hard.

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