Indigenous people rally on ‘Survival Day’

Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders from around Australia gathered at Sydney’s Yabun Festival last Saturday to celebrate and remember the survival of their culture.

Around 20,000 people attended the event held in Victoria Park. Festivities included a welcome corroboree and performances from musicians including Frank Yamma and Archie Roach.

The 1938 Day of Mourning protest held on January 26 – 75 years ago – was also remembered.

“What started as a protest on this date many years ago is now also a celebration of our strength and identity, and status as first peoples; I think that’s really important,” said co-chair of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, Ms Jody Broun in an address to the main stage audience.

Ms Broun said that despite considerable progress, social justice for Indigenous people had been elusive.

“What we want to see is reform that protects against discrimination and recognises our culture, our identity and our languages. The constitutional reform we envision is not just about being symbolic or tokenistic, it is about substantive reform and substantive protection,” she said.

“We also need the celebration to maintain that protest flavour. Because nothing has ever been achieved in this country for Aboriginal people without protest.”

During a speak out session, Ms Broun said a bill had gone to Federal Parliament to ensure greater recognition for Aboriginal people is on the government’s agenda. The bill is part of a long-term effort by the congress to launch a nationwide referendum within the next few years.

At the referendum, Australians would vote to change the constitution to prevent initiatives similar to the Northern Territory intervention and increase protection against racial discrimination.

Musician Frank Yamma said he felt proud and happy to see so many people at the event.

“I feel really privileged [and] really happy seeing all the different cultures from right across Australia. Everybody should understand what it means. It’s a very important day for Aboriginal people,” he said.

Mr Yamma also encouraged the numerous young musicians who performed on the day.

“Keep playing music and send a message with your music, and send a message about Survival Day,” he said.

Chairperson Steve Miller said greater cultural sovereignty was important, referring to the right to maintain traditional beliefs and customs without an imported state of mind.

“We contain the stories of this land. It is our blood that is shared with the land intimately and knows the stories and the seasons. If you want to share that, come to us. It’s our day,” he said.

The festival was organised by the Gadigal Information Service. Similar ‘Survival Day’ events were celebrated around the nation.