EXPLORING THE ULURU STATEMENT FROM THE HEART
16th March 2022
By Rosalind Bradley
Over 80 people gathered at the zoom seminar presented by The Grail on Saturday 26 February. The purpose of the day was to listen, read and reflect on this visionary 2017 Statement inviting us to respond to the First Nations call for a Voice Treaty and Truth.
Through videos, and Indigenous voices including Dean Parkin, Craig Cromelin (pictured), Pat Anderson and Teela Reid we recognised that this sacred and poetic message is fair, practical and a nationally unifying gift to all Australians.
We heard their pain from past and present transgressions and learnt the importance of acknowledging the past in order to have a better future and how structural problems cause many inequalities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. A Voice to Parliament would allow First Nations people to have power over their destiny and advise on policies which impact them and their communities.
The afternoon session concentrated on how to amplify support for the Voice through Ongoing self-education, Spreading the Word and Participating in existing groups. An extensive resource list was sent out to all participants. See the attached.
A final quote attributed to activist Dr Lilla Watson, a Gangulu Aboriginal woman (although she prefers to attribute them to “Aboriginal Activist group Queensland, 1970’s) holds a profound truth some 50 years later: “If you have come to help me, you are wasting our time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”
If you have any queries please contact The Grail at admin@grailaustralia.org.au
The recording of the day is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RFHm9b0ccT3gTLjwnXpWpdgzjluPk_ry/view
The organisers offer a huge THANKS to Sue Downes from the Women’s Reconciliation Network (Redfern) for the many hours of work she has put into editing the video so professionally.
Keep up-to-date with the campaign, reports and news at -
https://ulurustatement.org/the-statement/
