Ganguly woman and singer songwriter Kelly Loui believes we ought to celebrate what makes us Australians but not on January 26 as this date is totally inappropriate for First Nations people.
Leading up to January 26 we caught with the singer songwriter Kelly Loui to get her views on the meaning of this day.
The Ganguly Woman advised that her views are not representative of all Aboriginal people but draw from her personal experience growing up in a culturally diverse family.
She further explained that her position is influenced by her studies in social work as well as years of working in the child protection system and she has a sound understanding of transgenerational trauma.
“I do not oppose the celebration of what makes us Australians. But what I oppose is celebrating on a day that means something very different for Indigenous people," Kelly Loui said.
She then explains that January 26 is the reminder of traumatic events that have been ongoing since the beginning of colonisation.
“If we think about the forced removals, the loss of identity; pretty much the loss of the entire way of being, then it makes sense not to celebrate on January 26.”
Kelly Loui believes that education is the key to moving forward and making some positive changes.
“Once we have some understanding and we have some informed knowledge then we can start having that empathy, then we can start considering other things and learn things that we sort of miss."
But, she warns that the discussion must start in mainstream platforms in order to reach targeted audiences that have entrenched attitudes.
The Ganguly woman also acknowledges some small but positive steps made in different sections of society. She commends Centrelink website for featuring acknowledgment of First Nations people as well as the NRL for its positive initiatives.
Last year Kelly Loui released a song called “Time 4 a Change” featuring Mack Ridge. This track is a rallying cry to change the date.