The Forum > General Discussion > Is the Uluru statement about sovereignty?
Is the Uluru statement about sovereignty?
- Pages:
-
- Page 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
-
- All
The National Forum | Donate | Your Account | On Line Opinion | Forum | Blogs | Polling | About |
Syndicate RSS/XML |
|
About Us :: Search :: Discuss :: Feedback :: Legals :: Privacy |
Many Aboriginal people use the word 'Makarrata' when talking about treaty. It's a word from the Yolngu people of north-east Arnhem Land and has several layers of meaning:
Peacemaking. Makarrata literally means "a spear penetrating", a traditional practice Aboriginal people used as punishment. If a person was hit by a spear, usually through the thigh, they couldn't hunt or walk properly anymore. This settled them down, forced them to be calm and rest to heal. Hence Makarrata interpretation as "peace after a dispute".
Conflict resolution. Another meaning relates to a negotiation of peace, or a negotiation and an agreement where both parties agree to avoid dispute or bad feelings. This meaning is closely aligned with what many hope a treaty process would look like.
The term was first introduced to non-Aboriginal Australia in 1979 when the National Aboriginal Conference recommended a Treaty of Commitment be entered into between the Australian government and Aboriginal nations. The group decided to use a word from an Aboriginal language for the process and settled on Makarrata.
View the timeline of Australia's journey towards a treaty.
#What would an Aboriginal treaty be about?
Aboriginal demands for what should be included in a treaty are as diverse as Aboriginal nations and individuals. Here are some of the main ideas:
Sovereignty. Acknowledge that Aboriginal people have at no time ceded, relinquished or acquiesced any part of their sovereign existence and status. They want a "a space of our own, free from influence of government".
Land rights. Recognition that Aboriginal people have always maintained a property right in land and the natural resources according to their law and customs. They want an acknowledgement that Australia has not been settled. They want freehold, not native title. People who cannot reconnect to their traditional lands need to be included.
Shared power. A sharing of power with non-Aboriginal people through allocated seats.
A guaranteed voice. Previous solutions where an Aboriginal voice was granted via legislation failed as laws can be repealed in an instant. That's why Aboriginal people demand an Aboriginal voice that is enshrined in the Constitution.