For many, January 26 signals the Australia Day public holiday in celebration of our nation. For others, it is a day of mourning in recognition of our traumatic past.
Our First Australians view January 26 in many ways, but the day is far from celebratory.
“It’s a sad day which is full of mixed emotion for Aboriginal people,” says Colin Hunter, Traditional Owner and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung man.
“I think we tend to reflect on the past real strongly on this day. The rest of the nation is celebrating while we are not”.
How do Indigenous Australians refer to January 26?
January 26 is often referred to as 'Survival Day', referencing the historical injustices against First Nations peoples.
It is the day the First Fleet set foot on our shores – the day the lives as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples changed forever. For this reason, January 26 is also referred to as 'Invasion Day' and ‘Day of Mourning’.
What does ‘Australia Day’ represent to Indigenous peoples?
January 26 serves as a reminder of the devastating impacts of colonisation and the past government policies that were inflicted on Indigenous peoples.
The day marks the beginning of dispossession, of children being stolen from their families and of the countless massacres that took place on this land.
For many people across many communities, January 26 is also the Day of Mourning.
The Day of Mourning originated as a protest on 26 January 1938, the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet. It marked the first time Aboriginal activist groups from across the country gathered as a unified force.
The first Day of Mourning protest was held at the Australian Hall in Sydney, led by Jack Patten, William Ferguson and William Cooper. The three men came together to move this resolution:
“WE, representing THE ABORIGINES OF AUSTRALIA, assembled in conference at the Australian Hall, Sydney, on the 26th day of January, 1938, this being the 150th Anniversary of the Whiteman's seizure of our country, HEREBY MAKE PROTEST against the callous treatment of our people by the white men during the past 150 years, AND WE APPEAL to the Australian nation of today to make new laws for the education and care of Aborigines, we ask for a new policy which will raise our people TO FULL CITIZEN STATUS and EQUALITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.”
How do we move forward as a nation?
Let’s start with reflection.
“When you’re walking around on January 26 maybe reflect. Put yourselves in the shoes of an Aboriginal person and reflect on what that day would mean for them,” says Hunter.
“When they do put themselves in our shoes, how does it make them feel? For Aboriginal people, there is a lot of sadness as historically, for us, it was the day it all stopped."
Let’s grow support for the ‘change the date’ campaign.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are calling to change the day we celebrate our nation, and growing numbers of non-Indigenous Australians are eager to support this movement.
Many would also argue that Australia Day should not be celebrated until social justice and equality is achieved.
Let’s focus on truth-telling.
“I know it’s hard, but I really believe it starts with truth-telling,” says Hunter.
“It’s hard to say this but whitefellas have to have the humility to stop and reflect, understand and show empathy. It really needs to be whitefellas leading the way when it comes to reconciliation in Australia.”