General News
23 January, 2023
Call for focus on historical atrocities on January 26
As Australia Day events take place around the region this Thursday, traditional owner group Dja Dja Wurrung Corporation (DJAARA) is calling for more focus on the “historical atrocities” January 26 symbolises for Indigenous Australians. While the...
As Australia Day events take place around the region this Thursday, traditional owner group Dja Dja Wurrung Corporation (DJAARA) is calling for more focus on the “historical atrocities” January 26 symbolises for Indigenous Australians.
While the date marks the day in 1788 when the First Fleet landed at Sydney Cove, it also marks the beginning of violence and dispossession of land for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“January 26 marks the beginning of the genocide and the profound mistreatment of our People. It is important to reflect on the historical atrocities of the invasion and colonisation of our Ancestors,” DJAARA Acting Group CEO Cassandra Lewis said.
“This past has not been well documented and is yet to be better understood and accepted by others. Our vision is that future generations will know the truth in our shared history.”
Ms Lewis said the Dja Dja Wurrung hopes others will share their vision in the future.
“The Dja Dja Wurrung will continue to be a strong, constructive, and respectful voice in advocating for our People’s proper place in community matters,” she said.
“We hope others will increasingly share our vision so that one day we can lead the celebration of this land as our home.”
More regional towns are beginning to mark January 26 in a different way.
The nearby Mount Alexander Shire Council hosts a dual Australia Day-Survival Day event in collaboration with DJAARA in Castlemaine, while Ballarat City Council holds a Survival Day Dawn Ceremony.
Six Australia Day ceremonies take place around the Central Goldfields Shire each year bringing local communities together, however there has been a distinct lack of Indigenous recognition at the events.
Central Goldfields Shire Council mayor Grace La Vella said council acknowledged January 26 can be a difficult time for First Nations people.
“Central Goldfields Shire Council is committed to reconciliation and continue to work toward a more inclusive community in partnership with our Traditional Owners of the Dja Dja Wurrung and all our First Nations residents,” she said.
“We acknowledge that January 26 can be a difficult time for First Nations people and that Australia Day is not a day of celebration for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“During our January 26 ceremony, we will acknowledge that Aboriginal culture dates back more than 80,000 years and that it has been a long struggle over generations for recognition.”
Cr La Vella said a smoking ceremony will be held at the Maryborough station on January 25 with a DJAARA elder and Aboriginal construction company Barpa, although the ceremony is to mark the station activation project, not Survival Day/Australia Day.