* Whilst many of Edmund Strzelecki's friends and compatriots were involved in fighting against Russian Imperialists trying to invade and take over Polish territory, Strzelecki chose to pursue his interests in the field of scientific exploration of other continents.

* During his expeditions, he was really interested in observing and researching the lives and fates of indigenous peoples on various continents, their countries being invaded by Colonial Powers of the time. He was especially concerned about the destruction of their ancient cultures and lifestyles.

* Strzelecki uncovered examples of extreme barbarity amongst the European colonialists, and told them that they were greater cannibals than those who bear the name.! He was a lone voice in the crowd, warning about the impacts of colonisation. He said a charter for colonisation granted to one race, becomes virtually the decree for the extinction of the other.

* Whilst visiting America, Strzelecki observed starving and dying slaves on a captured slave ship, and commented on their human wretchedness. He genuinely believed in social equality and brotherhood of races. He believed in these universal, humanitarian values just the same way as (his father's commander) Kosciuszko did.

* Strzelecki's views, like Kosciuszko's, were ahead of his time, contrary to the contemporary opinion at the time, and often contrary to laws. His ideas transgressed countries, nations and continents, and he is considered a universal figure of great worth.

* Strzelecki devoted an entire chapter of his famous scientific book to the situation of Aboriginal People. The title of his book, which was published in London in 1845, is "A Physical description of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land". We are proud to give you a copy of this particular chapter.

* We believe Strzelecki was the first white man in Australia to write about indigenous issues in a sympathetic and humane manner. He was concerned about extreme bias in what earlier whites had written about Aboriginals. He said such observations bear more upon what this race is in relation to the colonist, than to mankind (page 333 of his book).

* Strzelecki commented with admiration on the beauty and grace in the way that Aboriginals moved. He said: His agility, adroitness, and flexibility, when running, climbing, or stalking his prey...the posture of striking, or throwing his spear, his attitude leaves nothing to be desired in point of manly grace. (p. 336)

* Strzelecki acknowledged that Aboriginal people lived in perfect harmony with the whole economy of nature, in their allotted dwellings and destiny, the Australian (Aborigine) is seen procuring for himself all that he wants, regulating all his social affairs, and securing all the worldly happiness and enjoyment of which his condition is capable (p. 343).

* Strzelecki lamented that the arrival of Europeans disturbed this happy economy: "the hearths of the natives... retreated or disappeared before the torrent of immigration. The manifold calamities...but more particularly the decrease and final annihilation of the great majority of indigenous races which has followed ... the approach of the whites...is a fact of such historical notoriety, that the melancholy instance of the Australian natives affords but a farther corroboration of the fearfully destructive influence which the one race exercises upon the other(p.343-345).

* His chapter ends thus: Amidst the wrecks of schemes, efforts, and attempts to Christianise, civilise, utilise and preserve the aboriginal race, there remains yet to be adopted one measure ... to listen and attend to the last wishes of the departed, and to the voice of the remaining few:

"Leave us to our habits and customs; do not embitter the days which are in store for us, by constraining us to obey yours; nor reproach us with apathy to that civilisation which is not destined for us; and if you can still be generous to the conquered, relieve the hunger which drives us in despair to slaughter your flocks and the men who guard them. Our fields and forests, which once furnished us with abundance of vegetable and animal food, now yield us no more; they and their produce are yours. You prosper on our native soil, and we are famishing! (p. 355-356).

* Let us also recall that 70 years prior to abolishment of slavery in the US Kosciuszko, a hero of the American Independence War and of the Insurection aiming to regain independence of Poland, in his Will devoted all his American fortune to free and educate enslaved Black Americans. Till now Kosciuszko is referred to as ‘the purest son of Liberty’ and ‘a man for all nations and for all times’.

* We are proud to present these thoughts on Strzelecki and Kosciuszko and hope that you can share with us appreciation of their humanitarian attitude. Through our Festivals, we aspire to honour Strzelecki and Kosciuszko. We also wish to acknowledge the contributions made by the Aboriginal guides assisting Strzelecki in his Australian journeys and discoveries. We hope that you will join us remembering them, and agree to be a part of our Festival, and in the fullness of time, refer to them, whenever appropriate, in achieving your dreams and aspirations.

Prepared by Ursula Lang, Ernestyna Skurjat-Kozek and Andrzej Kozek