“North America prior to illegal immigration” – a map I found on Mastodon

“Australia prior to illegal immigration” – Connection And Wellbeing Australia (CAWA PTY LTD) 2016

Three recent news items attracted my attention:

The first one was a map of North America with its native peoples in 1491, “prior to illegal immigration” — by the Spanish, French and British colonial powers.  In the absence of a wall along the East coast, this illegal immigration went on for centuries, with disastrous effects for the natives.

The second one was a map of Australia, depicting the diversity of its Aboriginal tribes prior to January 1788 when the first ships with British prisoners arrived and the penal colony was established.  “Prior to illegal immigration,” the title I added, is again an appropriate description.

The third item was the news that the Australian referendum on October 14, 2023, to alter the Constitution and allow the Aboriginal peoples to be represented in Parliament (see Box 1), was turned down in every state, by a majority of 3 to 5.

Box 1.  Australian Referendum on October 14, 2023

For an outsider like me, this poses a big puzzle since I’m aware of the movements in the country that acknowledge the horrible injustice done to the natives and express contrition in several forms.  This has led to the establishment of a Government-mandated greeting at all official Government functions, giving tribute to the peoples that were the country’s first inhabitants (see Box 2).

Box 2. “Welcome to Country” – Government-mandated greeting at all official Government functions at the local, regional and national level.

I therefore sent a message to Bob, my long-time friend and correspondent living in New South Wales.  See below what he says.  The most exciting notion is that the people are turning away from the association with the UK Monarchy, and there will be a time, hopefully soon, when “an Australian Republic [will be established] with a Charter of Australian Citizen Rights that parallels the UN Charter of Human Rights.”

Dear Bob,

Hope you are well!

When you have some time pls explain to me the mean strain in your fellow Australians that doesn’t allow the rights of Aborigines to be anchored in your Constitution, after all that has been done to them.  And how does it square with the sanctimonious preface to every ceremonial public government speech, acknowledging that standing on the land of Aborigines is a privilege?

–Joachim

Hi Joachim , 

Your question to me is a fair one from an outside observer and deserves a viewpoint from me as I voted Yes but I am disappointed with my fellow Australian’s response as the count reaches its conclusion. 

The Question arising as to why 3 out of 5 Australians voted NO ?

A few points I feel are worth raising:

1. 1. This Referendum was long overdue . Previous Governments promised to hold one . The recent action was a direct election promise fulfilled without fear by the NEW Labour Government . Their Mission accomplished.
   2. The Conservative Coalition Opposition Leader declared for NO and with others They then raised a Trump-like campaign of Fear , Uncertainty and Doubt , FUD . The misinformation, lies and negativity that was coordinated propaganda was proportional to the NO result achieved. 
   3. The Referendum question was too Simple to be believed. So , politics prevailed and majority of people’s reasoning failed in my view .  The truth of the extent of the GAP between the indigenous and non-indigenous community evidenced by the lower life  expectancy for the indigenous members nationwide. As a minority they are 3% and voted majority YES in their localities. 

• Racism is endemic in a multi cultural society like Australia where the separate Traditional aims do not necessarily follow the political aims and FUD is effectively transmitted by a heavily biased media.

–Bob

Hi Joachim,

I am clearly disappointed about the failure of Australians to grant respect to the indigenous peoples whose traditional lands were stolen over two hundred years ago. 

The conversations will now continue, without looking back and the exercise of pointless reflection on the mistakes that may explain a perceived failure of understanding of arguments for the Yes case and its simple AIM , now relegated to academic tracts in history . 

The fact of the indigenous peoples long history of 65,000 years of occupancy is still not acknowledged in the Australian Constitution as a token towards their persistence in this community .

What next? I propose the following ….

Devise a NEW constitution entirely which means establishing a Republic of Australia (AR) that , abolishes the UK Monarchy which invaded Australia over two centuries ago and establish within it, a Charter of Australian Citizen Rights that parallels the UN Charter of Human Rights . 

However the above proposition has recently also been a topic that failed the Referendum test and now HRH King Charles III is the new Monarch of Australia . 

For all the puff and push of the FUD emerging from the days past, no further mention needs to be made, as many people across Australia bury their DEAD ideas and choose to develop NEW aims that one day would be favoured by the majority for the common good . 

Thanks for your continued interest in this country that now has a myth in its culture called “ A Fair Go “ debunked. 

–Bob

Australia is still way ahead of the USA where a “Welcome” statement by the local, regional or national government referring to the sacred land of the indigenous population North America’s, is as yet inconceivable. Where ideas and dreams of white supremacy lurk in the heads of a frightening number of people.

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