Reconciliation Week 2021

I would like to acknowledge the Traditional owners of this country, paying respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, connection to land, waters, and communities, and to Elders past, present and future.

2021 marks twenty years of Reconciliation Australia and the theme is “More than a word. Reconciliation takes action,” urging the reconciliation movement towards braver and more impactful action, and more than just raising awareness and knowledge. Reconciliation is about Indigenous and non-indigenous people uniting and being one as a nation and as a people.

On the 27^th of May 1967, the Referendum demonstrated a more then 90 per cent vote to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the census and give the government power to make laws for them. The Uluru Statement was constructed 50 years later expressing that in 1967 First Nations peoples were counted and now they need to be heard, and action needs to be taken. Many documents have been written and discussed with political leaders and Indigenous Australians, including wisdom of Elders past and present with hope that these leaders will see and acknowledge the truth and address issues that colonisation has created and continues to create. Without proper action, and the separation of ignorance and power, justice and reconciliation can’t be nurtured, and we will continue to lose more because of it.

Action is so simple and it’s amazing how people in power just can’t see that. See what their ancestors did all those years ago and be brave enough to not only take responsibility but be given the chance to peacefully make it right and not have history repeat itself. Like, imagine how amazing it would be if action was taken and there was finally fulfilled peace between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in this country! It would take time, but it’s not impossible! However, there are more Aboriginal men and women in custody than ever before, more children being taken from their families than ever before - even more than the Stolen Generation - (which only finished in the 70's, and isn’t that long ago if you think about it!) and more sacred lands and sites that are being mistreated. A lot of non-Indigenous politicians are defensive and hardly know what to say when these issues are brought up in interviews. They know what the right thing is to do, they just don’t want to admit it and be put on the spot and be blamed for the issues Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have been going through since colonisation. The effects of all of these past events, passes through generations because of the spiritual connection with the land and water and culture.

Through the Black Lives Matter movement, there are still a lot of people saying All Lives Matter, and that’s a lot of people’s defence when topics like these come up. Which to me doesn’t make any sense. Because of course all lives matter, but when some races are being more oppressed than others and tragic and violent history continues to push its way through to the “evolved” present, then there's an obvious problem. It’s not like we’re all trying to invade Parliament house with weapons and threats. All that is requested is attention and peaceful action.

My dad wrote a song for Reconciliation this year called ‘The Truth’, which he described as a sort of sad love song between Indigenous peoples and those in power. A request for them to really listen and walk with us. When he was describing the song to me, he said something that really resonated with what I think reconciliation should be: “The true essence of reconciliation is not for our healing, but it is for you to come into our space, listen deeply, and see through our eyes. Our words will then become alive in you, and you can walk with us. This song is written from a place of patience, kindness, respect, forgiveness and love. We will always come back to the table in the hope that one day you will see our Truth.”

Stepping away from safety, from our comfort zones and becoming brave enough to take real effective action for Reconciliation is what we need for this country. 

We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, histories, cultures, and futures.Home - National Reconciliation Week 2021

This is what you can do to take action for reconciliation for this year and beyond:

1. Call out racism
2. Do your research (by watching movies/tv shows – or reading) (First hand facts)
3. Do your research on local history (the land you live on and its history)
4. Create discussion
5. Support Aboriginal-Australian businesses, charities, artists/musicians
6. Understand political representation
7. Stand with first nation peoples in peaceful protests and campaigns, challenging leaders to take action on justice
8. Acknowledge country
9. Care for country
10. Take Aboriginal studies at uni to learn more

We need to move from ‘safe’ to ‘brave’ in order to develop and grow Reconciliation. This is a journey for all Australians as individuals, families, communities, organisations, and as a country. 

Happy Reconciliation Week everyone! Let's keep it up beyond this week and forever :) 

National Reconciliation Week 2021. 2021. Actions for Reconciliation - National Reconciliation Week 2021. [online] Available at: <https://nrw.reconciliation.org.au/actions-for-reconciliation/>&nbsp;

National Reconciliation Week 2021. 2021. Home - National Reconciliation Week 2021. [online] Available at: <https://nrw.reconciliation.org.au/&gt;