Australia Day is fast approaching and we might find ourselves excited – a public holiday to mark the end of the summer holidays. A day set aside for pool side parties, BBQ with family and friends or taking to the streets for the many events put on by the towns and cities we live in.
January 26 has a different perspective for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, often referred to as Survival Day in honour of the resilience and continuance of culture despite the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788.
Here are a few ways we can spend the day:
1. Attend an event:
Consider attending a Survival Day event happening all across Australia. Some of these events are active protests, others commemorations, and some are family friendly picnics with line-ups of deadly artists. 2018 has more going on than ever all across the nation.
2. Change the date?
Some of us feel the date should be changed to change the celebration and focus to another day. So if this is something you can get on board with, carry on with things on 26 January and take an alternative day as a celebration of Australian diversity and share with #changethedate movement.
3. Learn something new:
Which Indigenous nation / country / language group do you live on? Study on? Any famous Indigenous Australians from born in the same place as you? Have you informed yourself on the history of the stolen generation? There is heaps to learn, so take the time on 26 January to learn something you didn’t know.
