Reconciliation Week: The power of truth-telling

This year, Reconciliation Week celebrates two milestones in Australia history and focuses on how the power of truth and acknowledging the past can help heal the present relationship between the Indigenous people and the rest of Australia’s population.

A woman holds an Australian Aboriginal Flag Source: AAP

As always, Reconciliation Week in Australia celebrates two major milestones that occurred within the same week.

The first occurred on May 27 1967, where a referendum saw more than 90 per cent of Australians voting to give the federal government power to conduct programs for Indigenous people, and to include them in the census.

The second event is the famour Mabo Case, where on June 3, 1992 the High Court Mabo decision overthrew the legal doctrine of Terra Nullius.

Eddie Mabo walking with his team of lawyers in his case, which saw the High Court overturn the legal doctrine of terra nullius. Source: NITV

This year, National Reconciliation Week also focuses on truth -telling.  

Karen Mundine, CEO of Reconciliation Australia, explains:

«It's telling the stories of the good, the bad, and the ugly of the relationship between first nations people and other Australians. And I think what we're hoping to do is start the conversation. Let's start identifying what are some of those truths that we want to talk about and what would it take for us to come together around those conversations».

According to advocates, a formal truth-telling process in the form of a treaty, would go a long way towards kick-starting the discussion.  

Australia is the only Commonwealth country that has not signed a treaty with its Indigenous population.

You can read more in English here.

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rally during reconciliation week Source: Ronin Films