Our Constitution was written more than a century ago. By then, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples had lived in this land for more than 40,000 years, keeping alive the world’s oldest continuous cultures. But Australia’s founding document did not recognise the first chapter of our national story.
It mentioned Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples only to discriminate. For the first six decades of our democracy – until 1962 – Indigenous Australians could not vote federally, and were excluded even from being counted as citizens until the 1967 Referendum.
Today Australia prides itself on being a place of fairness. But our Constitution still does not recognise the first Australians.
RECOGNISE is the people’s movement to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our Constitution. The group has prepared a School Learning Guide, for use by teachers and students in class discussions and in student leadership activities.
RECOGNISE 2014
Date: 21 March 2014