Antinuclear

26 January – for Aboriginal people a day to mourn huge losses

Australia Day or Invasion Day: A Day of Contrasts  Feb 7, 2013 “……..Invasion Day – A Day to Mourn Huge Losses”………As a strong contrast, 26 January is also marked and observed as the Invasion Day by the aborigines of country who live a traditional life. It represents the invasion of their land. Why should they celebrate this day or what calls for the celebration, is a pertinent question every aborigine has in his/her mind. Unanswered, it is a cause of dissatisfaction and unhappiness even today.

Aborigines of Australia call this day by different names. They are: ‘Day of Mourning’, ‘Invasion Day’, and ‘Survival Day’. As an effort to unite all aboriginals in their fight for sovereignty this day is also celebrated by many as the ‘Aboriginal Sovereignty Day’ by many people who believe in fighting back for their rights.

Why do they call it the Day of Mourning?

When the First Fleet landed in the Sydney Cove, it altered the lives of aborigines of the nation for all times to come. It was the day that saw the abduction of people, killing of local resistance and forceful eviction. They consider it as a day when they lost their land to the invaders. The darkest things of the day are the death in custody and loss of family. Basically the aborigines were stripped of all their rights. As this day represents the massacres that took place, it is a day of deep sorrow to them.

What has caused this Dissatisfaction?

Aborigines feel that:

• They were driven out of their lands
• The struggle led to killing of aboriginals
• They were not allowed to follow their customs and culture
• They were not allowed to teach their language
• They were disrespected.

The deprivation of rights and the deaths caused by this invasion is etched on the minds of the aboriginals not to view the day as a day of celebrations. The attack on their culture and lifestyle has given them the cause to display their dissatisfaction or unhappiness through various activities like re-enactments of Phillip’s landing which was accepted as part of the ceremonies for the Australia Day celebrations. The aborigine’s stage protests on this day to show their dissatisfaction staging protests to show their loss.

This day being a day of great contrasts, is both celebrated and mourned by two different groups of people of Australia. While the day represents achievements, joy and fun, it also marks the sorrow of people who were unable to exercise their rights. http://actco-australia.org/2013/02/australia-day-or-invasion-day-a-day-of-contrasts/

February 8, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL