How has the reconciliation process impacted Aboriginal people?

(Here is a 1500 word essay of mine from a recent unit at university, for context; submitted November 2020)

Critically analyse whether reconciliation has successfully benefitted or failed Aboriginal peoples.

Reconciliation between Indigenous Australians and the colonial government has been an increasingly relevant social issue in the 21st century. Aboriginal versions of history have contested the legitimacy of the nation-state’s narratives about their relationship with the Indigenous upon arrival. For reconciliation to properly occur, historical injustices committed toward the Indigenous population need to be acknowledged, legitimising Indigenous historical accounts in the process.

Prime Minister Paul Keating during his historic, ‘Redfern Speech’.

This essay argues that Indigenous rights have been increasing as various Australian Governments from the 1960s have pursued reconciliation through significant events alike the 1967 Referendum, The Native Title Act and Prime Minister, Paul Keating’s powerful Redfern Speech. These events coupled with the ‘Close the Gap’ campaign and Kevin Rudd’s 2008 National Apology have been significant in implanting the importance of reconciling into the national consciousness. Although there has been significant progress, reconciliation has still failed Indigenous people as they still experience racism and discrimination in contemporary Australia. This discrimination is seen through experiences with racist abuse, lack of life opportunities pertaining to education and health, being disproportionately imprisoned and having to coexist in an Australian community that is still divided on historical facts surrounding past injustices.

However, by empowering Indigenous voices and embracing Aboriginality within government policy, the reconciliatory process can be reshaped. Firstly, I will provide a timeline of the reconciliation process in Australia and detail the key events underpinning its development. Secondly, I will demonstrate why current reconciliatory efforts have failed to properly benefit Indigenous people’s wellbeing. Finally, I will examine how the reconciliation process can better assist the Indigenous population through constitutional reform and the empowerment of Aboriginal culture within official Australian government policy.

Posters demonstrating the struggle for Indigenous Civil Rights.

Historically, the reconciliation process between the Australian government and Indigenous people has rapidly developed since the 1967 referendum. In 1967, 90.77% of Australians voted to give Aboriginal people the power to vote and be included in the Census. This vote removed the eugenic profile of Indigenous people being considered part of Australia’s ‘Flora and Fauna’. The change in the legal profile of Indigenous people was assisted by Indigenous Activism from figures like, William Cooper and Charles Perkins. William Cooper established the Australian Aborigines League in 1932 and called on intervention from the Prime Minister and King to prevent the Indigenous race from extinction and grant political representation. Charles Perkins was also a proud contributor in the ‘Freedom Rides’, a student-led movement where students travelled NSW in a bus to raise awareness about the discriminatory practices being imposed upon Indigenous people. This activism combined with the Referendum result created fruitful grounds for substantive changes in Indigenous lives.

Eddie Mabo.

In 1992, Meriam man, Eddie Mabo fought for the recognition of the Murray Islands as the traditional lands of the Meriam people. This recognition was upheld in the High Court and defeated the myth of ‘terra nullus’, stating that the land belonged to no one before colonisation. The defeat of this repugnant myth gave rise to the recognition of Native Title. The Native Title Act was subsequently passed in 1993. This debunking was a momentum shift toward increasing Indigenous agency within Australia. Also, in 1992, Prime Minister Paul Keating delivered his historic ‘Redfern Speech’ whereby he recognised the colonial history of dispossession, violence and forced removal of Indigenous children. The impassioned speech was reconciliatory where he acknowledged past injustices. The further creation of the ‘Close the Gap’ campaign in 2007 and the 2008 National Apology to Stolen Generations, delivered by Kevin Rudd were also major events in the reconciliation process. These initiatives combined with past activism and voting rights have delivered Indigenous people an increased role in Australian society. Although these events suggest a positive outlook for reconciliation, current reconciliatory efforts are still failing Indigenous people.

Protestors attending Australian BLM protests against Indigenous deaths in Police custody.

The reconciliation process is still failing Indigenous people, as seen through existing racism, lack of opportunities, lower life expectancy, higher incarceration rates and debates surrounding historical discrimination. According to the 2014 Australian Reconciliation Barometer, Aboriginal people still experience high levels of racial prejudice and discrimination. 33% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people had experienced verbal racial abuse in the six months leading up to the survey. With these experiences of prejudice still rampant, the reconciliation process has not been successful in creating a harmonious society where cultural diversity is embraced. According to the 2014 Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage Report, Aboriginal people enjoy less participation in, and access to, a range of life opportunities relating to areas of employment, education and health. The lack of opportunities for Indigenous Australians is not indicative of a reconciled nation, but rather one still divided upon ethnocultural lines. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people constitute 3% of the Australian population, but in 2016 they accounted for 27% of Australian prisoners. In addition, currently 441 Indigenous people have died in police custody. How can Australia be reconciled when its Indigenous population are dying because of government mistreatment?

The Australian government still repeats past wrongs with alarming rates of Indigenous children being classified as ‘Wards of the State’ or being in out-of-home care for large periods of their lives. This institutionally racist system echoes that of past governments who oversaw the Stolen Generation. These destructive events in Indigenous lives are having a devastating impact on the mental health and life expectancy of Indigenous men whom on average die 8 years younger than non-Indigenous men. Youth suicide rates are also 4 times higher than in non-Indigenous communities. The Mowanjum community in Derby, Western Australia in 2012 experienced a suicide epidemic, whereby there were 6 suicide deaths in 6 months. In this period, 40 people were admitted to Derby hospital for self-harm, attempted suicide, overdosing and suicidal thoughts. These struggles cannot simply be ignored in the reconciliatory process. Reconciling has also failed Indigenous people in the Australian Constitution where the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination highlighted the absence of any entrenched protection against racial discrimination, with sections 25 and 51 still containing racial bias.

The Mowanjum Community’s Basketball Courts, located 10km outside of Derby, Western Australia.

Reconciliation has also been especially difficult with Australians still divided on the nature and extent of past wrongs, where only 50- 60% of the community agree that past racial-based policies have created today’s disadvantage. This division surrounding past mistreatment is a substantive barrier to possible reconciliation. Rather than imposing a particular historical account, two legitimate histories need to be recognised officially. By doing so, a fair and just reconciliation process can gather momentum. Although the evidence clearly illustrates reconciliation is failing, this can change through better policy initiatives focused on embracing Aboriginality in business and education.

Reconciliation efforts in Australia can be successful for Indigenous people through Constitutional reform and policy initiatives focused on the empowerment of Aboriginal culture and practices in business and education. The enshrinement of race in section 25 of the Australian Constitution should be repealed and replaced by a generally applicable equality provision. Formal recognition within Australia’s primary document can be a catalyst for redefinition of a relationship which has been fraught. A repeal of this section can encourage an aspiration of equality rather than hallmarks of anti-discrimination. By reforming this section of the Constitution, Indigenous people will benefit from protections of their identity and culture. This protection is key to creating an organic reconciliatory process. A podcast discussion with Indigenous Academics, Professor Ian Anderson and Doctor Virginia Marshall addressed the importance of incorporating Indigenous culture into policy and closing the gap. Addressing the new government initiative, Coalition at Peaks, both agreed the representative body has prioritised Indigenous perspectives by having them heard and respected. Indigenous elders have been able to participate in shared decision-making processes, key to reconciling. Dr. Marshall addressed the linkage between business and science for Indigenous people and stated that there is little R&D funding into Aboriginal practices. Increased funding relating to bush food sustainability and biodiversity could be major for Indigenous self-determination and business.

Various types of bush tucker.

By embracing this aspect of Aboriginality, Indigenous foods and medicines could be patented, supporting the development of the Indigenous economy and further intertwining modern science and Aboriginality. Both Dr. Marshall and Prof. Anderson agreed on the bettering of education amongst Australian youth through truth-telling surrounding the history of Indigenous people. This history could be embedded into national curriculums and with this, hope can prevail. These policy suggestions by esteemed Indigenous Academics are crucial in further lobbying for better Indigenous representation in the Australian economy. Through embracing Aboriginality within business and educational norms, Indigenous identity can prosper and coexist within modern-day Australian society. Therefore, with governments focused on fostering understanding rather than imposition, reconciliation can become a realistic goal.

This essay argued that Aboriginal Australians have succeeded in bettering their place in Australian society as various Australian Governments from the 1960s have pursued reconciliation through events like the 1967 Referendum. These events have been significant in implanting the importance of reconciling into the nation’s consciousness. Although there has been significant progress, reconciliation has still failed Indigenous people as they still experience discrimination in contemporary Australian society. This discrimination is still seen through racist abuse, lack of opportunities, disproportionate imprisonment and debate surrounding historical injustices. However, through the empowerment of Indigenous voices and culture within government policy, the reconciliatory process can be successful. Firstly, I provided a timeline of the reconciliation process in Australia. Secondly, I demonstrated why current reconciliatory efforts have failed Indigenous people. Finally, I examined how the reconciliation process can better assist the Indigenous population through constitutional and policy reform. Reconciliation can therefore be successful if Indigenous perspectives are valued and listened to. The stipulation, however, is whether Australia is ready to reconcile with its reprehensible past?

May River, located about a 40 minute drive from the Mowanjum Community.

Bibliography:

• Anderson, Ian, Marshall, Virginia, and Pearce, Martyn, host. “Can Australia close the gap.?” Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny (podcast). October 22, 2020. Accessed October 28, 2020. https://pod.link/democracysausage/episode/ZmRhNmViMDMtNTFkNy00OGYxLWEwYTIt OWRmYzhkYjk0YWU5.
• Attwood, Bain. “Unsettling Pasts: Reconciliation and History in Settler Australia.” Postcolonial Studies 8, no. 3 (2005): 243–59. https://doi.org/10.1080/13688790500231012.
• Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. “The Mabo Case.” Accessed October 30, 2020. https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/articles/mabo-case
• BBC News. “Closing the Gap: Australia’s indigenous inequality ‘not good enough’.” Accessed October 30, 2020. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-51469708
• Charlesworth, Hilary & Durbach, Andrea. “EQUALITY FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN THE AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTION.” Australian Indigenous Law Review 15, no. 2 (2011): 64–73. Accessed October 30, 2020. http://regnet.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/publications/attachments/2015- 05/Charlesworth_EqualityIndigenousPeoples_0.pdf.
• Clarey, Margarite. “Australia police in spotlight on Indigenous deaths in custody.” Al Jazeera, September 18, 2020. Accessed October 31, 2020. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/18/australia-police-in-spotlight-on-indigenousdeaths-in-custody.
• Daley, Paul. “It’s 50 years since Indigenous Australians first ‘counted’. Why has so little changed?.” The Guardian, May 19, 2017. Accessed October 30, 2020. https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2017/may/18/50-years-since-indigenous-australiansfirst-counted-why-has-so-little-changed-1967-referendum.
• Donovan, David. “Indigenous Australians struggle for equality.” ABC News, November 15, 2010. Accessed October 31, 2020. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-11- 15/indigenous_australians_struggle_for_equality/41034.
• Muldoon, Paul & Schaap, Andrew. “Aboriginal Sovereignty and the Politics of Reconciliation: The Constituent Power of the Aboriginal Embassy in Australia.” Environment and Planning. D, Society & Space 30, no. 3 (2012): 534–50. https://doi.org/10.1068/d24310.
• Reconciliation Australia. The State of Reconciliation in Australia Summary. Canberra: Reconciliation Australia, 2016. Accessed October 26, 2020. https://www.reconciliation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/State-of-ReconciliationReport_SUMMARY.pdf
• Skelton, Russell. “Cry for help as suicides soar.” Sydney Morning Herald, April 19, 2012. Accessed October 30, 2020. https://www.smh.com.au/national/cry-for-help-as-suicides-soar20120418-1x7ov.html