International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 129 No 6, 23 August 2024, page 26.
Friday 9 August marked the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, a day to celebrate not only the rich diversity and knowledge of First Nations communities globally, but also to raise awareness of the shared struggle to protect our rights.
This year’s theme is “Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact”.
From the fight against climate change to access to adequate health and education, Indigenous peoples around the world face many challenges. Many of these groups are located in countries like Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Peru and Venezuela. They face threats including, but not limited to, the exposure to diseases, agricultural and mining developments, and deforestation. Their survival is integral to cultural and linguistic diversity and the protection of Earth.
Within our context here in Australia, it has been nine months since the referendum was held to decide whether Australians approved an alteration to the constitution to recognise the First Peoples by establishing a Voice. Since the defeat, First Nations peoples have taken to grieving, processing the devastating outcome, and recalibrating. We are a resilient people and our spirts remain strong.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the educators reading this who campaigned with us, pledged their support and, more importantly, still stand with us. We are still here, and we all have important work to do.
I am grateful for the QTU’s Gandu Jarjum Committee – we have a platform that we will continue to use to advocate for First Nations students, staff, and communities for the betterment of all people.
Upholding Indigenous rights within this country and abroad is everyone’s business. It is important to learn about our peoples and cultures in order to understand and appreciate them. You can be a part of change by simply engaging with First Nations’ literature and classroom resources written and created by our peoples.
You could also attend the Dr. Evelyn Scott Memorial Lecture, which is hosted by the QTU annually and aims to bring people together and to call everyone to action in the pursuit of justice.
It is timely that we take opportunities such as this year’s National Reconciliation Week theme “Now more than ever”, NAIDOC Week’s message of “Blak, Loud and Proud” and the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples to reflect on how far we’ve come, the issues we currently face, and focus on our next steps in walking together to create a shared future.