News ReconciliationStories about Australia’s journey to equality and unity Recognition What next for constitutional reform? Karen Mundine Meet the woman spearheading reconciliation Indigenous style Top End fashions hot off the catwalk – and more ROB COLLINS THE WRONG GIRL STAR OPENS UP ABOUT HIS TIWI ROOTS AND ACTING FAME 38 October 2017 Reconciliation News is a national magazine produced by Reconciliation Australia twice a year. Its aim is to inform and inspire readers with stories relevant to the process of reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. CONTACT US JOIN THE CONVERSATION www.reconciliation.org.au/get-involved/ www.facebook.com/ReconciliationAus [email protected] twitter.com/RecAustralia 02 6273 9200 @reconciliation_australia Reconciliation Australia acknowledges the Traditional Reconciliation Australia is an independent, not-for- Owners of Country throughout Australia and profit organisation promoting reconciliation by building recognises their continuing connection to lands, relationships, respect and trust between the wider waters and communities. We pay our respects to Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Islander peoples. Visit reconciliation.org.au Elders both past and present. to find out more. Cover image: Logie Award-winning Indigenous actor Rob Collins from hit television drama The Wrong Girl. Issue no. 38 / October 2017 3 CONTENTS FEATURES 8 Changing the constitution 11 Continuing the fight for meaningful recognition 11 Leading man Rob Collins on acting, diverse roles and the Tiwi Islands 14 Australia Day Why we need a unifying national day 17 Making the grade Schools vie for national reconciliation awards 20 Bright sparkie Young Indigenous mum paves way for women in mining 26 Must-reads Ten important books on Indigenous cultures, histories and politics REGULARS 4 Reconciliation recap 4 24 6 CEO column 7 Calendar 22 In conversation 24 Style 17 4 Issue no. 38 / October 2017 RECONCILIATION RECAP SIX MONTHS IN REVIEW Clinton Pryor’s 5500-kilometre walk 3 September across Australia came to an end Cross-country walk for justice with his arrival at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra. The Majuk, Balardung, Jika and Yulparitja man set off from Western Australia almost a year ago in protest of the forced closure of Aboriginal communities. Clinton’s journey saw him visit Aboriginal communities in some of the most remote parts of Australia, and meet politicians in Canberra to call for justice for Indigenous people across the country. 2–9 July 6 August NAIDOC Week Leaders respond to Referendum #OurLanguagesMatter Council report The theme of NAIDOC Week 2017 Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten responded – Our Languages Matter – aimed to to the recommendations of the Referendum Council’s final report in their celebrate the unique and essential speeches at Garma cultural festival in north-east Arnhem Land, Northern role that Indigenous languages play Territory. Mr Turnbull said the recommendations were being considered by in cultural identity. The Australian Cabinet but warned that Australians are “constitutionally conservative”. Bureau of Statistics 2016 Census Mr Shorten said Labor fully supported the recommendations for a revealed that one in 10 Aboriginal constitutionally enshrined voice, a truth-telling process and treaties between and Torres Strait Islander Australians Indigenous people and Australian governments. said they speak an Indigenous language at home, with 150 languages reported. Many of those languages are at risk of being lost as Elders pass on. Issue no. 38 / October 2017 5 26 May Release of historic Uluru Statement from the Heart “In 1967 we were counted, in 2017 The Referendum Council released an historic statement at Uluru, calling for we seek to be heard. We leave base the establishment of a ‘First Nations Voice’ in the Australian Constitution. camp and start our trek across As well as rejecting the notion of symbolic recognition, the Uluru Statement this vast country. We invite you from the Heart recommended the establishment of a ‘Makarrata Commission’ to walk with us in a movement of that would oversee agreement-making and truth-telling between governments the Australian people for a better and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The council’s final report was future.” – Uluru Statement from the released on 30 June 2017 [see pp. 8-10 for more details]. Heart (26 May) Ashleigh Gardner became the first 26 June Aboriginal woman to represent First Aboriginal woman in Australia in the Cricket World Cup Cricket World Cup when the team played their first game of the tournament against the West Indies in England. Gardner is a proud Muruwari woman from northern NSW and was only 19 years old at the 23 May time of selection. Earlier in 2017 she Plan for healing Stolen became only the second Indigenous Generations woman to play for Australia, and the first to do so since Faith Thomas The Healing Foundation released an in 1958. ‘action plan for healing’ to mark the 20th anniversary of the landmark National Reconciliation Week marked Bringing Them Home report into two extra special anniversaries this forced child removals. year. May 27 marked 50 years since The new report – Bringing Them the 1967 referendum, which saw Home 20 Years On – highlights the more than 90 per cent of Australians negative impact of Australia’s failure vote to give the Commonwealth the to implement the recommendations power to make laws for Aboriginal from the ‘Stolen Children’ National and Torres Strait Islander peoples Inquiry. It also outlines how we can 27 May – 3 June and recognise them in the national actively support healing for Stolen Milestone anniversaries census. June 3 was the 25th Generations and their descendants. celebrated anniversary of the Mabo decision, which paved the way for Native Title. 6 Issue no. 38 / October 2017 CEO COLUMN It is a great pleasure to write my first column for Reconciliation News as CEO of Reconciliation Australia. The past six for influential women from around the people at the heart of the matter months since the country to come together, develop – regarding their perspectives on last edition was connections and have important constitutional recognition. released have been conversations about Australia’s very eventful. reconciliation journey. The consultations revealed a number of key issues important to Australia’s First One of the We have been in touch with the group Peoples, including a voice to parliament, highlights for me participants in the weeks since the agreement-making and truth-telling was attending festival and I am thrilled to report that about our history. this year’s Garma festival with a group many are making plans for further of incredible women from some of action in support of the advancement Reconciliation Australia has long Australia’s leading corporate, non-profit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocated for genuine reform that and community organisations. It was a peoples. is based on the participation and special privilege for us to be welcomed perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres and hosted by Djapirri Mununggirritj, a Another significant event within the past Strait Islander peoples. Accordingly, we Yolngu elder and Reconciliation Australia six months has been the release of the support the aspirations outlined in the board member. Referendum Council’s final report. Uluru Statement from the Heart. The recommendations put forward The festival, held on the land of the in the report have been cause for In this next phase of the journey, Gumatj people, Gulkula in the Northern significant consideration and reflection Reconciliation Australia will work closely Territory, from 2 to 8 August, is about recognising Aboriginal and Torres with government, Aboriginal and Torres described as “the Indigenous equivalent Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Strait Islander organisations, educators, of the World Economic Forum”. It is a Constitution. businesses and the wider community to platform for the discussion of economic progress this longstanding issue. The Referendum Council, which challenges and opportunities for I hope you enjoy this edition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander was tasked with determining if and how constitutional change should Reconciliation News and thank you for peoples, and for preserving and being part of our national reconciliation maintaining culture. take shape, conducted extensive consultations with Aboriginal and journey. An important contribution that Torres Strait Islander peoples as part Reconciliation Australia makes to the of its work. These consultations were Garma festival each year is bringing significant because they were designed together a Garma Women’s Group. and led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Karen Mundine In doing so, we create a rare opportunity Islander Australians themselves – the CEO, Reconciliation Australia GARMA WOMEN’S GROUP 2017: L-R back: Indu Balachanbran (NCIE), Yvette Manolas (Woodside), Karen Wood (BHP Foundation), Jocelyn Grant (First Australians’ Capital), Andrea Mason (NYP Women’s Council), Emily Carter (Fitzroy Women’s Resource Centre), Sarah Ryan (Woodside), Judy Slatyer (Australian Red Cross), Julie Kantor (Annamila Foundation), Melinda Cilento (Reconciliation Australia), Lynn Kraus (Ernst & Young) and Shelley Roberts (Compass Group). L-R middle: Alison Creagh CSC (Australian War Memorial), Christine