Why January 26 is a difficult day for many First Nations people

While most of us are used to celebrating the Australia Day public holiday with barbeques, beers and beach cricket whilst wearing Australian flags; we may not have stopped to question the history and meaning behind the day.

What is Australia Day?

January 26 is the day that Captain Arthur Phillip took formal possession of the colony of New South Wales in 1788 and raised the British flag for the first time in Sydney Cove. In 1946 the Commonwealth and state governments agreed to unify the country's celebrations and call it 'Australia Day'. The day has been celebrated as a public holiday since 1994.

The National Australia Day Council promotes it as our “national day to all Australians to inspire national pride and increase participation and engagement across all sectors of the community”.

The meaning of Australia Day for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are very diverse, and so are their views on this day.

For many there is little to celebrate, and it is a commemoration of a deep loss. Loss of their sovereign rights to their land, loss of family, loss of the right to practice their culture.

You may hear the terms 'Invasion Day', 'Day of Mourning', 'Survival Day' or, since 2006, 'Aboriginal Sovereignty Day'. The latter name reflects that all Aboriginal nations are sovereign and should be united in the continuous fight for their rights.

There are many reasons why January 26 and ‘Australia Day’ are controversial, painful, and traumatic for First Nations people.?For most, this day marks the start of colonisation.?A lot of Australians have some idea about the violent and devastating history of colonisation in Australia since 1788, however too few of us understand how deeply colonialism and the effects of colonisation still impact Indigenous communities today.?

Many believe that to truly celebrate this country we must find a date that includes all Australians. Yawuru Lawyer Mick Dodson AM, speaking to the?Koori Mail, said that he believes someday, Australia will change the date to one that is a “comprehensive and inclusive date for all Australians.”

Bryan Andy, Yorta Yorta man from Cummeragunja (an Aboriginal village on the Murray River) on Australia Day:

"I call Australia Day 'Invasion Day' or 'Survival Day'. The apology (by PM Rudd) was the first step, but there are still many, many steps to go.

There's a saying that white Australia has a black history. It can sort of be taken that it has been a dark or unfortunate history, but it's also true that we were here first. Sometimes people think that Australian started 200 years ago with the invasion."

What can I do on January 26?

While we’ll all enjoy a day off from work on Wednesday, we can take a moment to reflect on why January 26 is a not a day to celebrate for many First Nations people. Here are a few things we can do to help us connect to First Nations culture and to better understand why this day is a difficult day for some.

• Watch a video: Aboriginal People share their thoughts on ‘Australia Day’
• Listen to some music: ?Adam Briggs’ song titled ‘January 26’ featuring Dan Sultan
• Attend an event: Check what’s happening near you on January 26 this year
• Watch a film: Sweet Country (2017) Australian western set on the Northern Territory frontier in the 1920s
• Visit an exhibition: Still in My Mind explores richly diverse notions of identity, home and connection to country (Melbourne Museum until 15 May)
• Read the Uluru Statement from the Heart: A message written to the Australian people, from Indigenous Australians
• Sign a petition: If you do believe Australia Day should be an inclusive day of celebration for all Australians, sign the petition to #Changethe Date
• Make a donation: Pay the rent is a grassroots collective, with funds contributing to campaigns with a focus on protecting First Nations rights
• Buy from an Indigenous business: Support First Nations communities' right to self determination by buying from Indigenous owned and operated businesses