
Mamamia only refers to January 26 by its date, to acknowledge that it is not a day of celebration for all Australians. If you want to be an ally this January 26, we urge you to sign this letter to your MP about the Uluru Statement from the Heart – which calls for constitutional change and structural reform that recognises the sacred, ancient spiritual link Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have to their land.
With a generation that keeps a record of everything on their social media, when you go through your 'Facebook memories' you can see that you are no longer updating your status in the third person; you can see your growth when it comes to your views and opinions on things.
Last year I wrote an article for Mamamia about "Australia Day" (which Mamamia will only refer to as January 26) and why I thought we should 'Change the Date'.
In the past, changing the date felt achievable.
Previously, I wasn’t asking you to completely cancel your BBQ but just re-schedule. Well, that’s no longer good enough and I would like you to cancel the BBQ altogether.
I wouldn’t invite my mates over, listen to Triple J and float around in the pool on my inflatable thong to celebrate the death of your grandparents.
Watch: Invasion Day. Post continues after video..
While the thought of ancestors may be far from your mind, for me it’s why I am here against the odds.
The “Full-Blood Aboriginal Male” and “Full-Blood Aboriginal Female” in my family tree and my old people before them. They survived through extreme climate changes, they survived alongside wombats the size of cars, big cats with jaw power stronger than any living big cat today, they survived and peacefully traded with other countries.
While we hoard toilet paper and chicken thighs, my ancestors adapted to their ever-changing surroundings for over 60,000 years in order to survive and that’s why I’m here.
And hey, maybe I’m not addressing you - you might not celebrate this day in allyship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, but this might help your respectful argument your racist Uncle John at the up-coming family gathering, it may go a bit like this.
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