"Why can't Aboriginal people get over the past?"
It's a controversial question, but one that's worthy of a thought-provoking response from the Aboriginal Australians behind a Victorian initiative aimed at connecting indigenous and non-indigenous people.
The new Deadly Questions website encourages people to ask the questions they have always wanted to ask Aboriginal people, but may have been too afraid or embarrassed to ask.
Questions like "what does a real Aborigine look like?" or "do you all speak the one language?"
"I'm open to anything and I'm open to people using these questions to step across the cultural abuse," renowned playwright and musician Richard Frankland told AAP on Saturday.
The project wants to start a conversation, rather than let assumptions fester in a vacuum, ahead of a push in state parliament towards historic Treaty legislation.
"These questions actually humanise what's been dehumanised," Frankland said.
According to the 2016 Australian Reconciliation Barometer, many Victorians feel they don't know much about the state's Aboriginal heritage.
They also don't feel comfortable asking questions for fear of offending or appearing ignorant.
Even though the project has its roots in Victoria, Frankland is confident the website will be used by people around the country.
"I'm hoping that it challenges the social conditioning of this country and stops us from being invisible or being seen as the problem," he says.
"I'm hoping it changes the very cultural tapestry of the nation."
Frankland says the reference to "deadly" questions is a positive one, because to Aboriginal people, deadly means "cool" or great.
All the people answering the questions are Aboriginal Victorians and include rapper and Yorta Yorta man Adam Briggs, Hawthorn player Jarman Impey, Richmond Tigers AFLW player Natarsha Bamblett, and senior Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy.
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