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'What are you actually celebrating?' Indigenous elder says Australia Day debate must continue 'What are you actually celebrating?' Indigenous elder says Australia Day debate must continue
(35 minutes later)
“If I was going to change the date, it would be June the 3rd, which is the day when terra nullius was struck down – that’s a day worth celebrating,” says the Larrakia elder June Mills.“If I was going to change the date, it would be June the 3rd, which is the day when terra nullius was struck down – that’s a day worth celebrating,” says the Larrakia elder June Mills.
“Because all the lies we’ve suffered from began with terra nullius – that this was nobody’s land – which was a doozy.”“Because all the lies we’ve suffered from began with terra nullius – that this was nobody’s land – which was a doozy.”
Australia Day is over for 2017, but Mills, an activist, singer-songwriter, and elder for the people of the land where Darwin now sits, does not want people to pack away the conversation with their flags for another year.Australia Day is over for 2017, but Mills, an activist, singer-songwriter, and elder for the people of the land where Darwin now sits, does not want people to pack away the conversation with their flags for another year.
Changing the date is not enough, says Mills, “but it is a start to [restoring] reality”.Changing the date is not enough, says Mills, “but it is a start to [restoring] reality”.
“The most important thing is to be educated on the reality. When you celebrate the arrival of the first fleet in 1788 on to the shores of Botany Bay, you need to know what happened to the people who were living here.”“The most important thing is to be educated on the reality. When you celebrate the arrival of the first fleet in 1788 on to the shores of Botany Bay, you need to know what happened to the people who were living here.”
The Guardian met Mills in downtown Darwin on Australia Day, beneath a large mural of the Aboriginal flag and the West Papuan flag flying side by side. Mills is a little late and some of the paint on her newly created protest T-shirt is still wet, spelling out “decolonise” across her chest.The Guardian met Mills in downtown Darwin on Australia Day, beneath a large mural of the Aboriginal flag and the West Papuan flag flying side by side. Mills is a little late and some of the paint on her newly created protest T-shirt is still wet, spelling out “decolonise” across her chest.
There is a strong history of activism in Darwin but it has dwindled. It held no march for Invasion Day, despite the groundswell of support prompting record crowds in other states.There is a strong history of activism in Darwin but it has dwindled. It held no march for Invasion Day, despite the groundswell of support prompting record crowds in other states.
We are attacked on so many fronts. How much can we take?
“Lethargy, apathy, it’s got a good grip on us here in the Territory,” says Mills.“Lethargy, apathy, it’s got a good grip on us here in the Territory,” says Mills.
“There should be a massive turnout but there’s not. They are down, beaten down, by the policies of government. As recently as the Dylan Voller debacle … we are attacked on so many fronts. How much can we take?”“There should be a massive turnout but there’s not. They are down, beaten down, by the policies of government. As recently as the Dylan Voller debacle … we are attacked on so many fronts. How much can we take?”
We are attacked on so many fronts. How much can we take?
Mills says Indigenous people have “lost faith” in government, citing the intervention, the juvenile justice crisis, high rates of incarceration of all age groups, the funding of non-Indigenous organisations to do Indigenous work, and the collapse of Indigenous bodies.Mills says Indigenous people have “lost faith” in government, citing the intervention, the juvenile justice crisis, high rates of incarceration of all age groups, the funding of non-Indigenous organisations to do Indigenous work, and the collapse of Indigenous bodies.
Despite these issues, much of the conversation around “Invasion Day” this year has centred on changing the date so it does not mark the beginning of more than two centuries of dispossession and violence.Despite these issues, much of the conversation around “Invasion Day” this year has centred on changing the date so it does not mark the beginning of more than two centuries of dispossession and violence.
Some, such as the Alice Springs former councillor and anti-violence advocate Jacinta Prince, suggest that these issues are the reason there is not much #changethedate activism in the NT, and “the future is far more important to me than our past”.Some, such as the Alice Springs former councillor and anti-violence advocate Jacinta Prince, suggest that these issues are the reason there is not much #changethedate activism in the NT, and “the future is far more important to me than our past”.
Mills recognises that there isn’t widespread support among non-Indigenous Australians yet, and believes that won’t change until there is wider understanding of Australia’s history.Mills recognises that there isn’t widespread support among non-Indigenous Australians yet, and believes that won’t change until there is wider understanding of Australia’s history.
“But we’re only 3% of the population, we can’t do this job,” she says.“But we’re only 3% of the population, we can’t do this job,” she says.
“It’s up to the government to really show leadership and sincerity, honesty about the reality of this country and tell the truth, put it in the schools. It’s not going to happen without education.”“It’s up to the government to really show leadership and sincerity, honesty about the reality of this country and tell the truth, put it in the schools. It’s not going to happen without education.”
There is a momentum of sorts. Perhaps more than any other recent year, conversation about the significance of 26 January as a day to celebrate Australia, filtered through all levels of government and society.There is a momentum of sorts. Perhaps more than any other recent year, conversation about the significance of 26 January as a day to celebrate Australia, filtered through all levels of government and society.
A tongue-in-cheek campaign calls for the national day to be held on 8 May. (May 8. Maaate ...)A tongue-in-cheek campaign calls for the national day to be held on 8 May. (May 8. Maaate ...)
On Twitter, mentions of #ChangeTheDate increased 850% on last year. #InvasionDay and #SurvivalDay were up 200%. In the outside world, Invasion Day marches across Australian cities drew their biggest estimated crowds ever.On Twitter, mentions of #ChangeTheDate increased 850% on last year. #InvasionDay and #SurvivalDay were up 200%. In the outside world, Invasion Day marches across Australian cities drew their biggest estimated crowds ever.
A.B.Original’s confronting protest track, January 26, came in at No 16 on the Hottest 100.A.B.Original’s confronting protest track, January 26, came in at No 16 on the Hottest 100.
“Change doesn’t really come from people being comfortable and complacent,” Trials told Triple J.“Change doesn’t really come from people being comfortable and complacent,” Trials told Triple J.
The head of the prime minister’s Indigenous Advisory Council, Warren Mundine, has written that 26 January has a devastating effect on many Indigenous Australians.The head of the prime minister’s Indigenous Advisory Council, Warren Mundine, has written that 26 January has a devastating effect on many Indigenous Australians.
Mills is heartened by the news the former Coalition minister Ian MacFarlane has changed his mind after thinking of his Scottish ancestors, and now feels the celebrations should be moved.Mills is heartened by the news the former Coalition minister Ian MacFarlane has changed his mind after thinking of his Scottish ancestors, and now feels the celebrations should be moved.
“Good on him. He’s living in the moment, and in reality,” says Mills.“Good on him. He’s living in the moment, and in reality,” says Mills.
But Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten have spoken against changing the date, as did the former prime minister Julia Gillard. The deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, has labelled protesters as miserable killjoys who hate Christmas.But Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten have spoken against changing the date, as did the former prime minister Julia Gillard. The deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, has labelled protesters as miserable killjoys who hate Christmas.
Revellers have packed away their flags, and the op-eds and tweets will soon slow. But Mills urges people not to put the issues on the shelf.Revellers have packed away their flags, and the op-eds and tweets will soon slow. But Mills urges people not to put the issues on the shelf.
“I cannot deny people that want to celebrate, but what are you actually celebrating? Because at the moment when I look at it as an elder from my community, you are celebrating 229 years of murdering our people, criminalising our people.”“I cannot deny people that want to celebrate, but what are you actually celebrating? Because at the moment when I look at it as an elder from my community, you are celebrating 229 years of murdering our people, criminalising our people.”