We are a people with great strength but suffer the harshness of being a minority in our own country.  

We live without the power of privilege and position. 

We are not recognised. 

But it’s our voice that bring us into the light.   

It’s our culture that keeps us strong.  

And it’s our people that we believe in. 

We need to tell our story. 

On January 26 1788 our land was occupied and taken by force by foreign interests. If the same thing happened today, it would be seen as a wrongful occupation of a sovereign country. It would be regarded as an act of war.   

For more than 235 years we have been pushed to the brink of annihilation through assimilation, removal and displacement. We have suffered land theft, stolen children, cultural eradication and widespread oppression. 

On January 26, like a wave, this pain, trauma and public objectification rises and crashes onto us. And year-after-year we keep our head above the water, and we swim against the tide of racism and ignorance, calling for our country to mature, to understand and to change – to show respect for our people and a commitment to a future that we can all share.      

We can celebrate Australia and our rich country and diversity on any other day of the year. But on this day, we ask all Australians to reflect, learn, and heal with us. 

Despite colonisation, dispossession, and attempts to erase us, our stories, languages, and traditions remain a force of resilience. Culture has been—and continues to be—a protective factor, healing and strengthening us. On January 26 we feel our survival, connection, and the unbreakable bond between our people and our Country.  

It is a day to shine a light on the injustices and an opportunity to hold systems accountable, to understand how these legacies persist, and to imagine something different—a future that is rooted in justice, truth, and equity.  

We can only move forward when we acknowledge the truth of our past and commit to dismantling ongoing injustices. 

Organisations that are governed, led and held by First Nations people – organisations like Children’s Ground – are making change.

Non-First Nations individuals, families, community groups, organisations and more can take a positive step towards structurally dismantling racism by demanding change. It must be led by people, not by politics. We have the ability to change the status quo together. It’s about backing the leadership, voices and solutions of local, First Nations communities and creating opportunities to access education, employment and healthcare that prioritises the cultural needs of First Nations people.  

Together we can create a new reality. We can create a history for our children and grandchildren, so when they look back, they can celebrate that their culture was respected, they lived with freedom and opportunity, free from racism and walked in partnership with non-First Nations people. 

In 2009 Australia endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), a global framework of minimum standards for the rights of Indigenous peoples. The declaration states that First Nations people have a right to speak their languages, maintain their culture and a right to raise and educate their children in their traditional ways. The Australian government has endorsed, and is accountable to this internationally recognised right, yet they are failing to implement and uphold these standards.  

On January 26 we have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to understand the truth of our history as a Nation. To learn and grow together so that we can achieve justice, dignity and human rights for all Australians.