Reconciliation Action Plan

Respect for Aboriginal culture and traditions which is part of the Aboriginal reconciliation and integration movement in Australia is highlighted many times throughout Crow Country and illustrates the best and worst of Australians. The way different characters show respect towards aboriginal culture and feelings contrasts two different attitudes. Today, opinions about aboriginal life and culture are shared through politics, social media and protests. Kate Constable’s book portrays extreme behaviour with racism and provides the reader with a perspective on just how cruel people can be. We have a very superficial understanding about aboriginal culture and this novel encourages readers to explore aboriginal culture and beliefs.

‘The Sapphires’ by Wayne Blair was the trigger that led my research into the effects of the Stolen Generation on Aboriginals in Australia. This film is about an Aboriginal singing group who want to make a name for themselves, but find it difficult because of the racism against them. This film also tells the stories of their cousin Kay, who was a half-caste and was stolen from her Aboriginal family at a young age to be taught the ways of white people, and forget her culture. This film made me realise that I am lucky to live in a country where racism of such an extent in which children are stolen from their indigenous families, isn’t part of our history, and has not affected me personally. From my research, I have found six main sources that have helped me to understand how large this problem was and continues to be. My sources: ‘The Sapphires’ by Wayne Blair; a film about a group of Aboriginal singers who are affected by racism which is based on a real life singing group; ‘The Sorry Speech’, by Kevin Rudd who was the Prime Minister of Australia in 2008 who explains the damage and apologises for the way that the actions of past governments tore apart the lives of their indigenous people. Then there is ‘Blind Eye,’ the documentary in which people who were stolen are interviewed and tell their stories. The film, ‘Rabbit Proof Fence’ this tells the story of two girls who were stolen and gives us insight into how brutally that they were treated after being ripped apart from

Reconciliation has been a somewhat popular issue in Canadian academia and in Canadian society in general. Reconciliation in the Canadian context is defined as a restoration of the relationship between the Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous people due to the historical injustices, that continue to affect Indigenous peoples even to this day, committed by the Government of Canada against the Indigenous peoples. This is a massive undertaking that will require the participation of both Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous peoples alike. A project of this magnitude will not be an easy task to accomplish, as undoing over 100 years of trauma to the Indigenous peoples is not something that can be undone over night, but rather it will take decades to accomplish. There will be many obstacles in the path of reconciliation that will have to be overcome. However, reconciliation is the best opportunity to repair the relationships between the Indigenous peoples and the non-Indigenous peoples because it makes sense for all Canadians to be involved, the Government of Canada is backing the reconciliation process and some work to repair the relationship has already been done and has beneficial results for everyone.

This Assessment will be my personal reflection and analysis of contemporary issues raised for post-colonial Indigenous Australians through two programs on the National Indigenous Television station (NITV), Living Black and NITV News. I will reflect on how these issues have impacted on the relationships between Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous Australians, and how Indigenous culture impacts 21st century Australia. Through this I will also consider my own feelings and opinions on how these issues are raised and considered.

I would like to begin this speech by recognising the owners of this land, the true ancestors of the country we call ‘ours’. To the Indigenous peoples of Australia, I acknowledge you, I thank you and most of all I apologise to you for the deep suffering and remorse you are put through. I am ashamed of this country’s treatment towards you. Past and Present.

Through my life, I have seen several different approaches to Indigenous people’s rights and importance in Australia. I have been fortunate enough to visit Ayers Rock and undertake a tour which allowed me to see Aboriginal culture in art and drawings as well as hearing Dreamtime stories from guides. I have also witnessed family friends who have been severely racist and disrespectful of Indigenous heritage and history. I also was lucky to work with some Indigenous students who were in Reception during my Professional Experience 1, and I was able to see first-hand how a culture clash can affect a student’s behaviour. I feel that even before entering this course, I have had the privilege of being able to observe both positives and negatives

Terra Nullius was once apparent in Australian society, but has now been nullified with the turn of the century. With the political changes in our society, and the apology to Indigenous Australians, society is now witnessing an increase in aboriginals gaining a voice in today’s society. Described by Pat Dodson (2006) as a seminal moment in Australia’s history, Rudd’s apology was expressed in the true spirit of reconciliation opening a new chapter in the history of Australia. Considerable debate has arisen within society as to whether aboriginals have a right to land that is of cultural significance and whether current land owners will be able to keep their land.

Good morning/afternoon fellow members of Queensland Youth Parliament. It is a great honour to stand in front of you during Reconciliation Week and talk to you about an inspiring woman who greatly changed the lives of many Aboriginal descendants through her determination to bring forth a better life for her people. Pearl Gibbs, despite her natural light skin which gave her the opportunity to pass off as a white person and live a normal life, identified herself as aboriginal and struggled through discrimination to fight for equality for her people (Taffe, 2008).

This article gives the reader an inequitable view of Indigenous Australians, defending Tony Abbot’s point of view and the audience is encouraged to agree with mainstream media in regards to whether or not Tony Abbott is racist. Article B from the Koori Mail condemns Tony Abbott’s viewpoint as not only racist but he is insulting the very culture that he is representing. Article B states that Tony Abbott does not understand Indigenous culture and how important land is to them “Connection to country is everything to Aboriginal people – defines Aboriginal people and sustains us in a cultural and spiritual sense and can play a vital role in building economic independence, self-determination and healing” (Greg Cromelin, Article B). With Article B the audience is encouraged to get angry at Tony Abbott’s comments and make him out to be racist.

The Redfern address acts as a vehicle for a possible solution to the inequitable situation of the withstanding disparity between the indigenous and non-indigenous communities. Thus, igniting within the Australian audience a desire for reconciliation.

Since European invasion in 1788, Indigenous Australians have fought to retain their rights and freedoms and to have governments recognise them. From 1788 and onwards the British created settlements on land that Aboriginal people previously used and controlled. Throughout the 19th century the government applied policies of ‘protection’ that have segregated Aborigines from Australian society by denying them equality and opportunity. They have achieved some significant changes in the brawl for acknowledgment (Anderson, 2014). Certain key developments that are significant in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders struggles for rights and freedoms are ; 1967 referendum, Mabo decision, bringing them home(stolen generations) and the apology. These four main key developments have been momentous developments for the Australian Indigenous population that are now allowed they’re human rights and freedoms.

A landmark event for Aboriginal People’s struggle for rights is February 13, 2008, when in Federal Parliament the then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd stood up to apologise to the Aboriginal People, for Australia’s past mistreatment on laws, policies and practices that effected the people of the stolen generation (Welch, 2008 and National Sorry Day Committee, 2014). Aboriginal People have struggled for rights since the British came to Australia but it was especially highlighted when the Aborigines Act 1905 came out. There were multiple things that lead to this landmark event, though the Bringing them Home Report in 1997 was a huge step in helping the apology to come about (National Sorry Day Committee, 2014). This essay will discuss in more depth what led to this event, what the goals of the apology were, what the outcomes were and the ongoing impact has resulted.

In the early 19th century, Aboriginal and Torres Strait islanders were afforded no rights or freedom due to their culture and race. If you were to be born an Aboriginal, by law you couldn’t eat in restaurants, marry without permission, swim in public pools, enter pubs or even have the right to vote (ref). Eventually the government recognised the demands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders for equality and social justice and acknowledged their right to make decisions about matters affecting their own lives. In recognition however of the past injustices faced, Australia’s Prime Minister of 2008, Kevin Rudd, presented an apology speech as a sign of respect to all the Indigenous people and Torres Strait Islander’s. In doing so, this humble and righteous action has broken down the racial barrier between Aboriginals and Australians. Ultimately, promoting the rights of indigenous people and acknowledging their significance to the Australian community in way that fosters human equality.

Abstract supplied from Creative Sprits as to the belief on what the new policy objective hope to achieve for the Aboriginal of mix descent. : “The destiny of the natives of aboriginal origin, but not of the full blood, lies in their ultimate absorption… with a view to their taking their place in the white community on an equal footing with the whites.” (Creative Sprits n.d.)

I will consult the Protocols for Consultation and Negotiation with Aboriginal People (1999) and Proper Communication with Torres Strait Islander People (n.d.), these documents include history and its impacts, significant issues, Aboriginality, communication techniques, consultation and negotiation and