I’m experiencing mixed emotions in the lead up to the Voice to Parliamement referendum. Hopeful to realise a step forward for all of us in recognising the First Nations people and their value to our nation; concern for their well-being and what the future may hold should the vote not get up, and wonder as I hear the spectrum of viewpoints across society.
I’ve been trying to dig behind the No people’s concerns and see what approaches might change their hearts and minds.
As I sat listening to a relative and her husband go through the list of NO perspectives I was challenged to reply with confidence, respect and find the ‘hook’ that might get them to sit back and reflect on another way, rather than just be argumentative. It wasn’t easy and I realised (again) that when values are so different it is difficult to reach people, no matter how pleasant they may be. To a point I understand as my education also lacked empathy and insights into First Nations people, their cultures and wisdoms. Even though in hindsight I was school friends with some, their identity was denied so it was never even a consideration except when some were labelled with being a ‘black bastard’. My journey has been blessed with opportunities for understanding and knowledge. Through friendships, reading and listening, and experiences of connection with Country that has shown a pathway to recognising the traditional wisdoms.
Now we are being asked whether we want to approve what First Nations people are asking for. I reflect upon the recent journey towards this point in time:
In December 2015 The Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten appointed a 16 person Referendum Council on constitutional recognition led by Pat Dodson and Mark Liebler. The brief was to conduct a national consultation process on how Australians think Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be recognised in the Constitution. The indigenous sub-committee oversaw 12 indigenous-led dialogues attended by 1200 people to seek input on a way forward. This culminated in the Uluru conference in March 2017 where the Uluru Statement from the Heart was agreed by 250 delegates.
In June 2017 the Referendum Council released their report to Government. Unfortunately the political timing was wrong as Malcolm Turnbull was under great pressure from the right wing and sadly the government quickly dismissed the report. Roll the clock forward and the Albanese government came to power with a commitment to the Uluru Statement so here we are months before the referendum with polls showing the result is on a knife edge.
Are we prepared as a community to listen to what First Nations people have asked for? Or do we just keep on making decisions for them,` thinking we know better?
Independent Kate Chaney offered this “The Uluru statement is a generous invitation to invest the time in listening and understanding. It’s an acknowledgement that we are in the season of makuru, the season of fertility. We have the ideas, but we’re not yet ready to implement them. Through the voice, let’s invest in building relationships and respect. Let’s invest in listening and learning. Let’s commit, in our constitution, to continuing to try to get it right together.”
Amanda Vanstone noted “A loss would set back by a decade, probably more, the opportunity to move forward together as a nation in both coming to terms with our past and building a better future. It would do a great disservice to indigenous Australians.”
So in the Active Hope context:
Gratitude: I’m very grateful to the wisdom within the Uluru Statement from the Heart and to the many elders and contributors in the process that led us to this point
Honouring the Pain: the history of Australia since 1788 is based upon the foundation of British dominance over the First Nations people. The colonial history was at the expense of their cultures and people. Ignorance and self-interest crushed generations. Now they are in the spotlight increasing vulnerability.
Seeing with new eyes: It is important to understand the concerns from all sides. The First Nations people who don’t see how a voice will make a difference to their lives and want a treaty instead to those who think it will just divide the nation by having one group have something special that others don’t. How can we bring people together to walk forwards.
Going Forth: The sense of urgency to basically convince the majority to vote YES in October. The ongoing truthtelling and education imperative to reach our young people primarily who will shape our future as those older generations are swept away.
This is a time for activating our hope!
Photo: Advocating for the YES.
