As the nation ramps up for a referendum on recognising First Nations people in the Constitution, its helpful to reflect on the past decade of the debate and consider what a Voice could really do.
(From my settler-perspective) Wonderful article Amy. Though I'm sure you don't claim to speak for everyone, it looks like many will feel seen and heard by your article.
Beware the prognostications of demographers. However, the number of Indigenous people is going from strength to strength, and this will manifest itself at the ballot box and political power. Already, more than 7% of babies born in Australia have Indigenous ancestry. During the intercensal years 2016-2021 the Indigenous population of Victoria was doubling every 11 years, and that of Australia every 15 years. This prodigious rate of increase is unsustainable, but it seems certain that most babies born in Australia this year will live to see an Indigenous population exceeding 10,000,000.
Having a relisten to this in January 2024 where the context of settler colonial violence is now everyday genocide as visited upon Palestinian people, in full view of the world. The narrative controls of a media system is baring it's teeth as total propoganda for colonial settler imperialism at the cost of humanity. So, if this global re- cognition by the international community , witnessing a revealation on the extent to which white settler narratives of benevolent superiority are upheld solely by extremist violence, by warfare against sovereign people to end their very existence , and as such is rightly agreed condemned as being well outside law on a principle of justice and basic humanity - if this doesn't pose a threat in this country to the ongoing silencing of sovereignty, of the bodies, lives and communitiies in this colony , of to the silencing of the true histories past and alive here, what could? But, I realise that reflection is a rational assumption based on an intelligence comprehends mirroring and self reflection. And imperialist strategic psych is less complex than that. As a narcissistic project it simply seeks supply, twisting everything in front of it to that bent. Rereading this piece reminds me that reiterating the justice restoration that needs to be done in decriminalising of sovereign people is basic to decolonization. Unsettling the unspeakability of the frontline experiences of daily surviving and the colonial violence underpinning Australian legal frameworks, constitutional law, education, media and that well- told- by-Noel political sheepdipping of ' consulting ' in tandem with PR.. these are the starting places of action that hold power to the token fluff talk points of the settler narratives. Seems to me the feet in the streets now demonstrating solitary for Palestian survival are the same ones willing to action a decolonising of this place in 2024. The failed Voice impels so much more.
Aboriginal sovereignty was found not to have been ceded in the Mabo (No2) high court case in 1992. Have you forgotten that is why the government came up with Native Title, a watered down version of Land Rights (Allodial Title) - Constitutional Recognition can be argued that Aboriginal people have ceded their sovereignty by agreeing to be governed if a majority vote in favour of it. A Voice without the power to act will be little different to the current position of Aboriginal people in parliament calling out against gross abuses.
(From my settler-perspective) Wonderful article Amy. Though I'm sure you don't claim to speak for everyone, it looks like many will feel seen and heard by your article.
Beware the prognostications of demographers. However, the number of Indigenous people is going from strength to strength, and this will manifest itself at the ballot box and political power. Already, more than 7% of babies born in Australia have Indigenous ancestry. During the intercensal years 2016-2021 the Indigenous population of Victoria was doubling every 11 years, and that of Australia every 15 years. This prodigious rate of increase is unsustainable, but it seems certain that most babies born in Australia this year will live to see an Indigenous population exceeding 10,000,000.
Thanks for this Amy
Having a relisten to this in January 2024 where the context of settler colonial violence is now everyday genocide as visited upon Palestinian people, in full view of the world. The narrative controls of a media system is baring it's teeth as total propoganda for colonial settler imperialism at the cost of humanity. So, if this global re- cognition by the international community , witnessing a revealation on the extent to which white settler narratives of benevolent superiority are upheld solely by extremist violence, by warfare against sovereign people to end their very existence , and as such is rightly agreed condemned as being well outside law on a principle of justice and basic humanity - if this doesn't pose a threat in this country to the ongoing silencing of sovereignty, of the bodies, lives and communitiies in this colony , of to the silencing of the true histories past and alive here, what could? But, I realise that reflection is a rational assumption based on an intelligence comprehends mirroring and self reflection. And imperialist strategic psych is less complex than that. As a narcissistic project it simply seeks supply, twisting everything in front of it to that bent. Rereading this piece reminds me that reiterating the justice restoration that needs to be done in decriminalising of sovereign people is basic to decolonization. Unsettling the unspeakability of the frontline experiences of daily surviving and the colonial violence underpinning Australian legal frameworks, constitutional law, education, media and that well- told- by-Noel political sheepdipping of ' consulting ' in tandem with PR.. these are the starting places of action that hold power to the token fluff talk points of the settler narratives. Seems to me the feet in the streets now demonstrating solitary for Palestian survival are the same ones willing to action a decolonising of this place in 2024. The failed Voice impels so much more.
Aboriginal sovereignty was found not to have been ceded in the Mabo (No2) high court case in 1992. Have you forgotten that is why the government came up with Native Title, a watered down version of Land Rights (Allodial Title) - Constitutional Recognition can be argued that Aboriginal people have ceded their sovereignty by agreeing to be governed if a majority vote in favour of it. A Voice without the power to act will be little different to the current position of Aboriginal people in parliament calling out against gross abuses.