Reconciliation. According to Reconciliation Australia, “At its heart, reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians.”
This starting point is simple in concept, yet for many it’s difficult to practice.
It begins with truth - recognition and acceptance of Australia’s historical truth; and it does take a degree of courage to recognise and accept.
While not all relations between Aboriginal People and colonists were violent, the fact remains that settlement, colonisation – invasion marked an almost immediate commencement of murders, dispossession of land, slavery and numerous other atrocities.
The Political Activist
I recall clearly sitting one day with Gurnai/Gunditjmara man Uncle Robbie Thorpe, interviewing him about Victoria’s path towards treaty.
Recognised internationally for his High Court legal actions on genocide in Australia, Uncle Robbie referred directly to the clear definition of genocide as laid out by the United Nations. For anyone with even a passing knowledge of Australian history of the past 235 years, the truth is all too plain.
In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:
Killing members of the group;
- Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
- Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
- Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
- Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. 1
Even with an understanding and recognition of Australia’s history being steeped in genocide, an obvious question is: Should the drive for reconciliation come from a place of white guilt?
The Treaty Commissioner
During my work as Treaty Correspondent on Aboriginal radio in Victoria, I closely followed the efforts of the Victorian Treaty Advancement Commissioner, Aunty Jill Gallagher AO, a proud and strong Gunditjmara woman.
Recognising that treaty/treaties could only be achieved and maintained with the support of the greater community, the Commissioner often spoke to gatherings of non-Aboriginal Victorians.
On more than one occasion she spoke bluntly of massacres of Aboriginal people across Victoria. She would explain clearly the destruction of communities through the forced relocation of Aboriginal people, and the horrors of children being wrested from their families.
The discomfort of the non-Aboriginal audience never failed to be palpable.
Ever the diplomat and leader, though, Commissioner Gallagher would say: “I don’t say these things so that you feel guilty. None of you did these things, but you need to understand where we are coming from, and why treaties are seen as so critical to our People.”
It was not guilt she sought to be the genesis of support, but an understanding of the truth and peoples’ inherent sense of justice and of addressing the wrongs of the past.
From my own perspective the drive from Uncle Robbie, Aunty Jill and so many others to promote the acknowledgement of historical truth is fundamental to reconciliation; and I encourage every Australian to make that their first step along the reconciliation path.
The Local Activists
Fortunately, reconciliation is taking place in a staggering number of ways and across virtually all areas of community; and local government is often at the forefront.
Over the years it has been my privilege to work with a large number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander activists who have formed the focal point of reconciliation at a local government level.
These are community members forming Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisory committees. They meet regularly to advise Councils on First Nations matters, helping bureaucrats and politicians work towards initiatives such as:
- Aboriginal Employment Strategies,
- Establishing cultural safety in the workplace,
- Development of Reconciliation Action Plans,
- Relationships with local Traditional Owner groups,
- Supporting self-determination,
- …and the list goes on!
During my years of involvement in such committees and over the course of hundreds of conversations and debates, there is one statement that rings loud in my mind. It was the words of Uncle Alan Brown, the current co-Chair of the Darebin Aboriginal Advisory Committee (DAAC):
“Nothing about us, without us!”
A simple five word statement that says it all.
While a great many Australians despair at the former Federal Government’s unapologetic dismissal of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, there are many local governments that have adopted a more courageous and affirmative stance.
There are those that have acted in recognition of the trauma resulting from celebrating Australia Day on the 26th of January. Others that collaborate with local Traditional Owners on Statements of Commitment.
Increasingly, we also see local governments partnering with their local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to promote self-determination through means such as economic independence, equity in employment and other measures.
We all have a part to play in local government’s reconciliation successes.
Local councillors are the most readily accessible government representatives of any of the three levels of government in Australia. A simple conversation with your councillor, advocating for the introduction of an Aboriginal advisory committee, an Aboriginal employment strategy or the development of a Reconciliation Action Plan can have major positive impact.
So too can involvement in community Reconciliation Groups. Yes, they exist!
Supported by Reconciliation Victoria, the statewide (Victoria) network of 29 groups does amazing work towards promoting “...deeper understanding, respect and justice for and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.”2
According to Reconciliation Victoria CEO Nicole Findlay, joining a local Reconciliation Group is highly effective in advancing reconciliation. “Many local reconciliation groups are committed to engaging and developing relationships with First Peoples,” she says.
“In partnership, they facilitate and promote activities that increase public awareness for First Peoples’ culture, places and community initiatives.”
A Little Boy’s Question
Reconciliation has no age barrier; and the quest for truth is not the sole domain of adults.
Several years ago I spent time at Watsonia Heights Primary School at the invitation of the librarian, playing traditional games with the students and joining with them in a yarning circle.
A young boy, around eight or nine years old asked me: “Can you tell us about the war?”
“What war do you mean?” I asked.
Without any hesitation he shot back: “When white people came to Australia.”
With some invaluable assistance from the librarian - I admit to being a bit out of my depth when it comes to discussing such matters with those so young - we had that discussion. It was a discussion that astounded me with regard to the sense of justice and growing thirst for knowledge from children.
When I asked that young student where he had first heard about “the war”, he told me that it had been a topic of conversation at home with his parents.
That more than anything else speaks to the growing awareness of this country’s true history, the need to share that history and the fact that reconciliation can start with a simple and honest conversation with your children.
Ultimately, reconciliation does not just fall within the purview of the politician, teacher or business leader.
It is everyone’s responsibility.
References
About the Author
Charles Pakana (born Keir Wells) is the second of three successive generations of Aboriginal journalists. After nine years (1975-1984) service in the Australian Regular Army (Royal Australian Infantry Corps), Charles embarked upon a career of journalism and corporate writing, which he continues to this day in an independent/freelance capacity.
He is currently the Chairperson of the Barrbunin Beek Aboriginal Gathering Place and works closely with several Local Government Authorities, advocating for and advising on First Nations’ rights.