Reconciliation Week, What Have We Missed?

Reconciliation Week for me is a week that raises all different kinds of emotions, a week of celebration whilst also a week of reflection. Reflection on the past, present and future. Reflection on my ancestors, culture and journey. Reflection on the connections I have been fortunate and privilege to have, hold and nurture.

Whilst there is also the reflections on the connections I haven't been able to have, hold and nurture. On the loss of ancestral stories, culture and history I haven't grown knowing, that I am still searching for now.

Throughout Reconciliation Week, I often see posts, articles, images that capture it is Reconciliation Week. Many who profile, claim and announce they support and that they are allies to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, country and culture. Yet it seems to just highlight how masked society has become to the western ideations, systems and structures. That society has become influenced, pre-conditioned and hard-wired to the belief that if we are posting, we are taking action.

Is the post not just a word, and isn't the theme for Reconciliation Week 2021 More Than A Word. Reconciliation Takes Action?

I am not saying all people, groups or organisation, but there is certainly many. There is also some doing great things initiatives to really take action give a platform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and perspectives to be shared and heard, supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business and services.

MAYBE IT'S JUST MY PERSPECTIVE?

When I reflect on these posts, I see 27 May Reconciliation Week... I don't see the reflection or understanding, I don't see education and action. I don't see reflection or awareness of HOW Reconciliation came about, of the significant link to pain and suffering for Aboriginal people that it carries... I see the ignorance, I see that people are not even aware that Aboriginal people are still dying in custody and at alarming rates. This year alone Six Indigenous people have died since March 2nd, four in NSW prisons. The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) are to release a report this month, so we could be talking more.

From the deaths in custody since 1991, we are averaging 16 a year and we are already nearing what is the average annually within 3 months March, April, May 2021. We are now totaling 475 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths in custody since 1991. Let alone the over-representation across the board, there is no conversation, education or action, just a simple Reconciliation Week post. I see people aren't aware that the beginning of Reconciliation came from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) that returned with a report in 1991. Where the RCIADIC report provided 339 recommendations to the government and Reconciliation which was the 399th recommendation, was the only implemented at the time.

When I reflect on these posts, I see 27 May Reconciliation Week... I don't see the reflection or understanding, I don't see education and action. I don't see reflection or awareness of the Referendum Change in 1967, isn't it the reason why Reconciliation Week commences on 27th May each year?

I see the ignorance, I see that people don't want to reflect on the referendum changes, the limited improvements it has actually provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

I see that people don't see or choose to ignore the injustices that have not changed or better yet that have changed to be viable through policy and legislation. As well as the masked changes that have just had stereotypes formed such as...

Aboriginal people are Uneducated, Unemployable and not understanding why or how these came about. Where and how it was influenced onto people in society, where it actually stems from. Then we create a policy to allow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to get an education, yet don't address the challenges and disadvantages, we teach an incorrect history of Australia. We create identified position and then from stereotypes that have since been used... Stereotypes like they only got the position because they are Indigenous, we only have them to fill a certain number of Indigenous staff, if we didn't have them Indigenous people wouldn't get jobs.

I see people that don't want to become educated on the history, the facts, like Aboriginal people and children not receiving a western education because they would never amount to anything more than servants and labourers or because a white parent didn't want there child going to school with an 'black' child. This was the policy in the NSW Teachers Handbook until 1972. This is just one small, recent piece of history, recorded by the white man in the white man's way.

*Evidence is located on page 27

When I reflect on post 3 June Mabo day, I just see the recognition to Mabo day, I see no reflection on the history that comes with it. I just see the ideations and pre-conditioning of western society, that if I post I support, I am ally, I am taking action.

What I don't see is the understanding Eddie 'Koiki' Mabo's journey can be traced back to beginning in 1981 at a land rights conference was held at James Cook University and where Mabo made a speech. That after 10 the year long fight the strain began to affect his health. On 21 January 1992, he died. That it wasn't until the 3rd June 1992 the High Court of Australia ruled in favour of Mabo’s Native Land Title claim. No reflection on how his family and community would have still been grieving the loss, whilst expected to be overwhelmed and excited of the decision. No reflection or action to the fact that Mabo dispelled the myth of Terra Nullius in his fight much before June 1992.

Whilst our understanding as a nation of the fact that the British did not arrive to unoccupied land, this has not made much difference to the day to day reality of most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. That has not seen action of all Australia's to support and drive sustainable improvements. Many, not all but many live that western way... wait for it to come from the government or from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

The list goes on for posts across Reconciliation Week. This list goes on for disadvantages and history that connect to education, employment, health, and other injustices. That I see many Australian's don't want to become educated, understanding and emphatic on. I continue to see the mask of Australia's western ideations, systems, and structures flow strong through the posts across Reconciliation Week.

The list goes but actions speak louder than words, this rings true to the theme of Reconciliation Week this year. To extend my perspective our culture is not about profiling what we do or have done. It's not done for the title, recognition, or accolades. It is doing it for a purpose, because it matters, because there is a connection to WHY.

So reflect when you are going to post about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander challenges and events. Why I am posting this, Why is it needed to be talk about, Why do we celebrate it, Why are we talking about it. What is the history, What other times do I talk about these challenges, What are the impacts still today, What outcome am I hoping to achieve.

All I see is reflection from the western lens, The Australian Government actioned Reconciliation, The Australian Government approved a Referendum change, The Australian High Court ruled in favour of Mabo's Native Title Claim. All I see is the western ideations, systems and structures that do not value, recognise or respect the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ideations, systems and structures here in Australia.

ARE YOU REALLY TAKING ACTION?

MAYBE IT'S JUST MY PERSPECTIVE?

Cleveland McGhie