This week is an important one on the human rights calendar in Australia and a very important week for Aboriginal people in particular. It is Reconciliation Week.
This past weekend marked what should be two very significant days for Australians.
Saturday 26th was Sorry Day a national day of healing. An opportunity for non-indigenous Australians & Governments to share in an expression of sorrow for the harm done to indigenous people by policies which allowed children to be removed from their families simply due to the colour of their skin.
Our Prime Minister, who in recent history elicited an apology from the Japanese Government for acts committed by Japan during the 2nd World War continues to refuse stolen generations any apology for crimes committed against them. However the government website does acknowledge the day see link... Sorry Day.
Sunday 27th marked the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, which resulted in the changing of sections 51 and 127 of the Australian constitution where Aboriginal people were specifically excluded from the census. Although Aboriginal people had already been given the right to vote, just a few years earlier the referendum was a key step in the struggle for equality in this country.
I think it is important that non Indigenous people do not pass these two very important days off as 'Aboriginal' days. They are both opportunities for all Australians to acknowledge our past and atone for harm done to our own people.
Although it was just one of several reforms needed to give Aboriginal Australians equal status under the law, I believe the 1967 Referendum was a threshold moment in Australia's democratic history. If all Australians were to embrace this day and celebrate our humanity and disdain for oppression it might help us to affirm our commitment to justice and equality as a unified nation.
I'm sure there are plenty of other events through the week so keep an eye out and spare a thought for what it could mean to you personally.
This past weekend marked what should be two very significant days for Australians.
Saturday 26th was Sorry Day a national day of healing. An opportunity for non-indigenous Australians & Governments to share in an expression of sorrow for the harm done to indigenous people by policies which allowed children to be removed from their families simply due to the colour of their skin.
Our Prime Minister, who in recent history elicited an apology from the Japanese Government for acts committed by Japan during the 2nd World War continues to refuse stolen generations any apology for crimes committed against them. However the government website does acknowledge the day see link... Sorry Day.
Sunday 27th marked the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, which resulted in the changing of sections 51 and 127 of the Australian constitution where Aboriginal people were specifically excluded from the census. Although Aboriginal people had already been given the right to vote, just a few years earlier the referendum was a key step in the struggle for equality in this country.
I think it is important that non Indigenous people do not pass these two very important days off as 'Aboriginal' days. They are both opportunities for all Australians to acknowledge our past and atone for harm done to our own people.
Although it was just one of several reforms needed to give Aboriginal Australians equal status under the law, I believe the 1967 Referendum was a threshold moment in Australia's democratic history. If all Australians were to embrace this day and celebrate our humanity and disdain for oppression it might help us to affirm our commitment to justice and equality as a unified nation.
I'm sure there are plenty of other events through the week so keep an eye out and spare a thought for what it could mean to you personally.
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