The (Uluru Statement) is not a new thing.
Issued on May 26 back in 2017 and following a First Nations convention that unified 250 Indigenous representatives from across Country, the statement is a formal declaration calling for the constitutional recognition of First Nations people. It’s somewhat of a request, if you will, from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, inviting non-Indigenous Australians to walk alongside a movement filled with structural reforms that would essentially build a future in Australia where two sovereignties could co-exist.
As the largest consensus of First Nations people proposing substantial recognition in Australian history, the Uluru Statement brings forward two key reforms (which we’ll get into later) that ultimately acknowledge the cataclysmic rupture of First Nations culture through colonisation. It pretty much sums up that Australia’s existence as a fully-fledged nation is unfinished without the official recognition of ancient First Nations law and truth-telling when it comes to recounting Australia’s dark history that stripped many spiritual and cultural connections through massacres, new policies and disease.
It’s an extremely important historical document which, with enough backing and momentum, could drastically change the trajectory of Australia’s future.
Uluru Statement From The Heart Summary
Okay, let’s dive into the Uluru Statement a little more.
In May 2017, over 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander delegates from across Country, gathered in Mutitjulu (located inside Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park). They met within the shadow of Uluru and signed a historic statement, a statement addressed to the Australian people inviting the nation to create a bright future through the proposal of a few key reforms.
The first reform calls for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution—a Voice to Parliament. According to From The Heart, “A Voice to Parliament will be a representative body that provides expert advice to parliament and the government about those laws and policies.”
The second has been represented through the word Makarrata. The Yolngu word has become synonymous with calls for a treaty and within the Uluru Statement has taken shape to look like a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making between governments and First Nations people. This also includes truth-telling about Australia’s history.
- Read the official Uluru Statement
- Listen to the official Uluru Statement
How You Can Get Behind The Uluru Statement
Okay, now that you’re all caught up on the Uluru Statement From The Heart, there’s a few things you can do:
If you want more resources, you can visit:
Now, here's everything you need to know about Our Islands, Our Home—a Torres Strait Islander-led climate change campaign.
Image credit: Jason H