We all know Australia Day is a really contentious issue. Last year I wrote a post on my own views (you can read that here if you’re interested) and I got a lot of responses with a whole range of views. I deliberately named last year’s post ‘this white suburban woman’s opinion’ to make it clear that I was only representing myself. I think issues like this can be polarising and media sensationalism makes fools of all sides. This year I wanted to keep the conversation going. I wanted some real opinions from Aboriginal people. Because if we are going to resolve this tension, we need to get right down to the cause. And we all need to own it.
I put out feelers via my Sister (who grew up in Alice Springs, it’s an adoption thing) to see if any Aboriginal friends wanted to answer some questions for me and was honoured to receive responses. I’d put together a few questions to get people thinking but said it as fine to be freeform. Before I get to that though, I was contacted by Alan Coe on facebook who sent me so many historical documents to check out. I think it’s important to view the facts before we look at the personal. I’ve quoted Alan below and taken the liberty of linking the documents as best I can. I did go through and read them all and found them so informative. I’ve also chosen two excerpts from those listed documents that really give context.
Anthony – This pic was taken with Tal-kin-jeri dance group at the Yeperenye Spirit Festival, Alice Springs. Uncle Moogy my sister Coralie and myself.
From Alan – You should read Captain Arthur Phillip’s Instructions (draft copy) 1787 page six last 1 & 1/2 paragraphs , then The Letters Patent 1836, then Pacific Islander Act 1875, Queen Victoria’s letter to the Privy Council 1875 Stating No jurisdiction over We the First Peoples of this land (I could not find a direct link for this). Even Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation Oath 1953 confirms our sovereignty.
Excerpt from Captain Arthur Phillip’s Instructions (draft copy) 1787 –
“You are to endeavour by every possible means to open an Intercourse with the Savages Natives and to conciliate their affections, enjoining all Our Subjects to live in amity and kindness with them. And if any of Our Subjects shall wantonly destroy them, or give them any unnecessary Interruption in the exercise of their several occupations. It is our Will and Pleasure that you do cause such offenders to be brought to punishment according to the degree of the Offence. You will endeavour to Governor Phillip’s Instructions 25 April 1787 (UK) Page 7 of 10 procure an account of the Numbers inhabiting the Neighbourhood of the intended settlement and report your opinion to one of our Secretaries of State in what manner Our Intercourse with these people may be turned to the advantage of this country.”
The 1875 legislation Pacific Islanders Act, which states in Article 7-
“Saving the Rights of tribes – Nothing herein or in any such Order on Council contained shall extend or be construed to extend to invest Her majesty with any claim or title whatsoever to dominion or sovereignty over any such islands or places as aforesaid, or to derogate from the rights of the tribes or people inhabiting such islands or places, or of chiefs or rulers thereof, to such sovereignty or dominion, and at copy of every such Order in Council shall be laid before each House of Parliament within thirty days after the issue thereof, unless Parliament shall not then be in session, in which case a copy shall be laid before each House of Parliament within thirty days after the commencement of the next ensuing session.”
You also need to read Queen Victoria’s Instructions to the Governor-General 1900, Paragraph VIII, where will see Evidence the G-G, PM and MP’s are also Guilty of Treason including former PM’s John Howard, Tony Abbot and most of our MP’s. Remember their Oaths or Affirmations of Office Hold them Accountable before God and the Australian people !!!
I sat and read through those documents, as a history buff I had to know the details. These documents make it clear that Aboriginal people retain their own Sovereignty and rights to land. That this was written in to the founding documents of our Nation. That this instruction came from Queen Victoria and was part of the sworn oath of our current reigning monarch. To read what should be and to know what has happened is devastating. I don’t know about you but I cried as I read. Can you imagine if we were invaded today and these legal provisions were made but not adhered to?I don’t know about you but I never realised that these documents existed and what they contained. I also never knew that past and current government were actively contravening it. I think it’s really important that every Australian knows this history.
Anthony – This was taken 5th December 2018, just before we did the ‘Welcome to Country’ live performance for the opening of the Test Cricket. India vs Australia. Myself with Uncle Moogy and Nephew Bryce Cawte.
Now that you have that history in mind, I’d like to introduce you my Sisters good friend Anthony…
My Name: Anthony Kym Wilson
Age: 46
Indigenous info: I am a Ngarrindjeri/Kaurna man with German/English connections. I’m a member of the Tal-kin-jeri Dance group which is run by my Uncle Major Moogy Sumner who is also Ngarrindjeri/Kaurna. The dance group has done many performances in and outside of Adelaide, also many international performances at certain festivals and meetings.
How do I feel about Australia Day: I have a divided feeling of this day. I was born in Queen Victoria Hospital South Australia and grew up in Central Australia (Alice Springs) and we would celebrate Australia Day because we were taught that Captain Cook arrived on this day and claimed it for the Union Jack (Queen). There was nothing said about Aboriginal Australia and nothing taught about what I’ve learnt along the way of understanding of this day, the thousands of murders of innocent families and the killing of a land that had provided a people of riches for over 60,000 years, I was at an age where I didn’t really understand until at one point in my life I changed and questioned who I was and why do I look different to the Aboriginal people from here (Alice Springs). My mother never stopped me wanting to learn about who I was which I dearly thank and give mountains of respect to. Without the guidance of my mother I guess I wouldn’t be where I am today.
What I would like to share with Australian Public: I guess the main thing I would love to share with the public is that how welcoming, caring and respectful our culture is. I would also like to share with the public the overall history of my groups and the many other groups of Australia on how colonisation had ruined what was built on a mass that provided and was sharable for every community Australia wide. Australia before 1788 was one of the biggest farming Islands in history. So, you could imagine the impact of common colds and small pox that were infested in blankets and given out to our people.
The Government back then I guess was one of the first to use chemical warfare on our people and still to this day not owning up to it, they also had ‘White Australia’ bill, trying to control our people in slavery, abusing us and also the public carrying out murders by going out bush and killing harmless people for their own greed of wanting land.
What Cultural or legislative changes would I like to see: Simple, I would like to see land, self-determination, the growth of our people and also anything to with aboriginal people given to Aboriginal People to have this control. Let our people look after our people, rights land language and culture. When we have a stable life and become the respect that should be, then we will be willing to share what we have with everyone.
Anthony: This picture was taken with Tal-kin-jeri dance group at the Yeperenye Spirit Festival, Alice Springs. 1st has my mother Uncle Moogy sister Coralie, Myself, Sister Helen with her child Lochlan.
I also got a great response from David, who is Anthony’s cousin. He sent me the following…
Well to start I am David May, my ancestry is the Ngarrindjeri nation of South Australia. How do I feel about Australia day? Well where do I start…I am one who has, nor will I ever celebrate the day for obvious reasons. Why would we celebrate the start of a genocide of our people? My own mum and her family were put on missions with segregation and apartheid conditions and not allowed off the mission. She was schooled to grade 7 and only with the mission kids, she did this level 3 times. Would I ask the Jews to celebrate their attempted genocide NO…nor will I.
The country was based on a lie by Cook on the statement of ‘terra nullius’, even though they could see our people on the shore, it was never founded. How can you state that when there was an entire population on the country to start with? The start of the lie continued and to this day still does with no reflection on true historical events. Kids in schools are given a fairy tale story of a peaceful colonisation, no it was an invasion because of that lie to start with, it was taken with force and not through peace. How many people know of the true events that happened to our people? Not many and the so the lie continues on…. Let me get something straight as well, we want our true history told in all its ugliness. Not to make this generation feel guilt, it’s not about guilt as most would have you think! You can’t make this generation feel that as it was their ancestors and government policies etc. It’s simply about acknowledgement. Recognising what happened and to reflect this in our history books, not colonised but invaded….
Unsure about the legislation thing (there was a question about what changes to legislation you’d like to see) but we need our homelands back. We need to have greater say in regards to our matters and not some fly in polly dictating to us! Australia is nothing to me, it’s an event that does not include us in anyway, I won’t celebrate it because of all I said, its exclusion of us. Also, I say this not through hate nor anger but in an educational way, in all that my mum went through she taught me to do in that way. Get to know us and talk to us, be informed, have knowledge and understanding and don’t believe in the myths and stereotypes that have been brainwashed onto mainstream Australians. Be enlightened and be open, the school curriculum needs to be changed with our input, lack of knowledge =ignorance.
Anthony – This was taken 5th December 2018, just before we did the ‘Welcome to Country’ live performance for the opening of the Test Cricket. India vs Australia. Myself with Uncle Moogy and Nephew Bryce Cawte.
Thank you so much to Alan, Anthony and David for contributing to this post and sharing your thoughts (And thank you Anthony for the pics in this post). It really means so much to be able to share your perspectives with everyone. I think it really opens up the sort of conversation that needs to be had. I think we should celebrate Australia day but on another date and more inclusively. I hope that this post has provided some food for thought. I hope that this evokes some thought and conversation and perhaps changed your Australia Day vibes, If you are celebrating Australia Day maybe this is something you can bring up over the BBQ or a lamington? I will be wearing ribbons in the colours of the Aboriginal flag along with my vegemite earrings and bringing this post into the convo. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments but anything hateful will be removed.
David thoughtfully shared some links if you want to learn more about Aboriginal culture, please click away…
Want to learn more?
- Commonground
- AITISIS – Australian Institute of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies
- SBS Topics
- National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples – Facebook
- National Congress of Australia’s First People – Website
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