Rally mourns invasion, calls to change the date

Shaine Stephen writes that Rally mourns invasion, calls to change the date.

Several hundred Aboriginal community members and their supporters gathered on Hobart parliament house lawns to mark Invasion Day on January 26. There was a one minute silence observed whilst a wreath was slowly walked down two rows of those who gathered and placed on the steps to parliament house.

People were welcomed to country and reminded that the Aboriginal people do not recognise today as Australia Day, that they do not celebrate this day, and that their land was stolen, that they will never give up and will never go away.

Aboriginal leader Michael Mansell spoke about how Australia is the only country that celebrates a day when a country was invaded. He asked how immigrants can feel part of a nation when the day marks the coming of one race displacing another — it is not a basis for unity, it is a basis for division. He said the day is "race based and based on a white Australia policy".

Emphasis Mine

A settler society, such as Australia, cannot readily let go of the myth that the indigenous people do not matter. The logic of settlement cannot admit to the rights of the original inhabitants, nor to the crimes that were committed during the invasion.

Yet, other settler societies, such as Canada, have recognised the original inhabitants in treaty and in law. Will Australia have the same maturity as Canada to do the same?