Elders Support Recognition

WAMBA Wamba elders believe the recognition of Indigenous people in the constitution would continue their long road to reconciliation.

Helping out at the NAIDOC Week Family Fun Day at the former Payika Koori College were elders Ivy Bell (Wise), 69, and Gloria Norrey (Davis), 58, who said the nation’s first inhabitants “absolutely” deserved to be recognised in the constitution.

“Just as much as every other culture deserves to be recognised,” Ms Bell said.

Both Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott have supported a referendum on the constitutional change, for the next federal parliament.

Constitutional change would: remove a clause allowing states to legislate based on race; outlaw racial discrimination; and recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait languages were the first languages of Australia.

Ms Norrey said aboriginal languages should be taught in all schools, and the aboriginal flag should always fly with its Australian counterpart, pointing out the practice was already widespread in some areas of Melbourne.

“In all government buildings, police stations, schools… it makes people more relaxed, proud of who they are, and they identify as Aboriginal.”

Both elders said there had been progress in racial discrimination since their childhood of stolen generations, “native centres” and unpaid labour, but there was still more to be done.