Aboriginal people in Australia demand real power

On the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum recognising the ongoing existence of Indigenous people in Australia’s Constitution, and the 20th anniversary of the Bringing Them Home report, which exposed the extent of forced child removals, a major Aboriginal convention was held at Uluru, near Alice Springs. The Constitutional recognition forum was held as the final stage of a process to decide how best to recognise Aboriginal societies and cultures in Australia’s constitution. Amid vigorous discussions, and a walkout by some delegates, the outcome was a call for a Treaty and a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Given the repressive and discriminatory policies by successive Australian governments towards Aboriginal people, the way forward from this point will require ongoing organising and activism.

On the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum recognising the ongoing existence of Indigenous people in Australia’s Constitution, and the 20th anniversary of the Bringing Them Home report, which exposed the extent of forced child removals, a major Aboriginal convention was held at Uluru, near Alice Springs. The Constitutional recognition forum was held as the final stage of a process to decide how best to recognise Aboriginal societies and cultures in Australia’s constitution. Amid vigorous discussions, and a walkout by some delegates, the outcome was a call for a Treaty and a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Given the repressive and discriminatory policies by successive Australian governments towards Aboriginal people, the way forward from this point will require ongoing organising and activism.