Page 26 - Indiginous Australians

Mary Alp
Australian government- ‘to produce policy that truly includes Indigenous
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Despite all this, Aboriginal nationalism was growing. The causes were many - including the growing non-Aboriginal support for land & civil rights; the revival of culture resulting from the 1970s Aboriginal Homelands Movement; The availability of Aboriginal cultural education programs; the influence of the 50s & 60s American civil rights movement; the exposure to overseas First Peoples fights for equality; Aboriginal run tourism attracting both domestic & international tourist who recognized & respected the uniqueness of Aboriginal culture; And not the least, importance of the input from their own very successful people ranging from filmmakers, artists, doctors, academics, lawyers, nurses, sports people & politicians. The Aboriginal voice has been around for a long time & its story telling in art, song, writing & the media is well known. Icons such as Cathy Freeman, Albert Namatjira, Yothu Yindi singing ‘Treaty’ & Jessica Malboy were admired here & overseas. Activists such as Charles Perkins & Mick Dobson & commentators such as Stan Grant, Bruce Pascoe, Marcia Langton & Rachel Perkins are influential both here & internationally. These many voices tell their stories of struggle due to colonialism while at the same time showing their ability to adapt to their ever-changing world. Aboriginal pride & dignity would be
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The discussion about a Treaty is not new. The lack of a treaty is said to be at ‘the very heart of the problem of the historical injustices in Australia’. It is an ongoing denial of prior occupation & dispossession 115despite the Mabo decision that rendered the concept Terra Nullius as null & void. The fact that other colonized countries have treaties adds to the sense of injustice. As discussed, one of the bases of this decision – knowingly or unknowingly - was racial superiority which has allowed a continuing disregard of a dispossessed people. When we look at the Land & Human Rights movements discussed; the appalling conditions still
113 Triggs, G. ‘speaking Up’, cpt 4.
114 Amnesty International , ‘Aboriginal Homelands’; Human rights.gov.au’Sustaining Homelands Movementss communities’; Creative spirits, ‘Famous Aboriginal People’.
115 Australian Together,’ The lack of a Treaty’.
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people’.
boosted by such role models.