Alix Cane – Year 12

Be a Voice for Generations 

This week we are recognising National Reconciliation Week. Reconciliation is the process of repairing a relationship, a complex process that requires recognition, communication and hard work. In the context of wider Australia’s journey of reconciliation with First Nations Australians, that begins with acknowledging the complicated history of our nation, and the consistent injustices present within our society that we need to actively work against to in the words of Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine, “[build] a better nation; a more united Australia that respects and takes pride in 65,000 years of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, stories and achievements; an Australia that believes in the right of First Nations peoples to make decisions about [their] lives and [their] communities; and an Australia that stands opposed to racism, inequity and injustice.” It is important for me to acknowledge that I am a non-Indigenous white person making this speech. I have never and will never understand what it is to live as a First Nations person in this country. In being an ally, it is essential that we understand the importance of listening to and centring the voices of the community we aim to support, and I encourage everyone in this room to actively engage with the Indigenous voices in our wider community. 

The starting date of Reconciliation Week is the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, in which Australia voted to count Indigenous peoples in their population. In 1967, the Australian people made the decision to simply count Indigenous peoples as Australians as well. This year, the national theme of Reconciliation Week is “Be a Voice for Generations.” Firstly, this is a reference to Australia’s upcoming referendum on the First Nation’s Voice to Parliament which we discussed in Tutor time this week, but secondly it is a call to action for our generation to continue the legacy of 1967, but to not only count our Indigenous population, to actively uplift their voices to create change in our society.

Professor Chelsea Watego, an Aboriginal Australian academic states in her article on reconciliation, that “True reconciliation foregrounds Indigenous sovereignty and attends to [Indigenous] needs and aspirations, as well as the ongoing practices and processes that impede our ability to achieve them. These must be defined by Indigenous peoples who have bloodline connections to the lands on which you are operating.” 

“Be a Voice to Generations” recognises that reconciliation is an ongoing process. One way I think we can all engage with this is when we hear the acknowledgement of country. This is something we hear so often, at least once a week at assembly, that perhaps we don’t unpack enough. My challenge to you and also to myself is to really think about what it means to recognise the history, culture and practices of the First Nations people. How does this intersect with our lives and what we do? The acknowledgment of country is a powerful opportunity for us to reflect on reconciliation on a regular basis and appreciate the history of the land on which we stand. As allies, it is important for us to educate ourselves on Indigenous culture and issues through resources created by First Nations Peoples. There are a plethora of articles, films, podcasts, books and TV shows created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that are easily accessible online, including all the resources that I was able to view on the Reconciliation Australia website. This week, the Social Action Va’ad will be screening ‘Incarceration Nation,’ a documentary by Aboriginal director Dean Gibson, that investigates the systemic issues that have led to the over incarceration of Indigenous peoples. Reconciliation is not just about this week, it is a year-round process that we all play a part in.

Aunty Lola Ryan giving a Welcome to Country at this week’s High School Assembly on behalf of the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council.