First Nations Peoples
Acknowledgement
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land, waters and seas, and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.
We value and respect the knowledge and experience that Australian First Nations peoples have gained over more than 65,000 and possibly up to 120,000 years of caring for Country and culture. We are proud to share Australia with the oldest continuous living cultures on earth.
Introduction
Humanists Australia values diversity. This position statement sets out how we apply our diversity value to the First Nations peoples of Australia.
We recognise the diversity and richness of First Nations Peoples. We recognise that many hundreds of nations with different languages and cultural heritage existed on the Australian mainland and its offshore islands before European colonisation and continue to exist today. In this statement we use the term “First Nations” to include all Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Tiwi Islander, and Palm Islander peoples, and others with Australian Indigenous heritage.
We acknowledge the terrible toll the Frontier Wars and the Stolen Generations had on First Nations peoples and the challenges that they continue to face to this day as a result.
We value and respect all Australians, including First Nations people, and are committed to ensuring everyone has the same rights and opportunities.
We welcome First Nations people
We welcome First Nations people as members of HA and guests at our events, and strive to ensure they feel respected and included.
We strive to become better allies
We encourage our non-Indigenous members to become strong allies for First Nations people:
to create space for First Nations voices to be heard;
to listen to and understand the stories and perspectives of First Nations people;
to stand with First Nations people when they face injustice;
to include acknowledgements of country at our events;
to recognise and honour days of significance to First Nations people.
We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart
The Uluru Statement from the Heart is the culmination of 13 Regional Dialogues
with First Nations Peoples. The Statement is an invitation from First Nations Peoples to all Australians, to walk with them in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.
Humanists Australia supports the three key elements of the Uluru Statement from the Heart:
Voice: We hear and support the call for the establishment of organisations that give Indigenous Australians a voice in any policy or legislation that impacts them.
Treaty: We hear and support the call for a Makarrata Commission to supervise treaty negotiations.
Truth: We hear and support the call for the Makarrata Commission to oversee a process of truth telling about our history.
Humanists Australia accepts the invitation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and supports First Nations voices in whatever form they can be created.
Reconciliation
Reconciliation between the First Nations peoples of Australia and other Australians is a crucial step toward fostering unity, justice and equity within the nation. It acknowledges the profound injustices and systemic and structural disadvantages faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as a result of colonisation. By promoting truth-telling about history, respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and knowledge, and addressing socio-economic disparities, reconciliation seeks to build stronger, more inclusive relationships. It is not only an ethical imperative, but also an opportunity to enrich Australia’s identity and future through mutual respect and shared understanding.
Australia Day has multiple meanings
Australia Day means different things to different people. Many Australians see the day as a day to celebrate the nation that has been built since Federation. Many immigrants to Australia celebrate the day as the day they received their citizenship.
To First Nations peoples, January 26, the date when Arthur Phillip raised the British flag at Port Jackson, is Survival Day or Invasion Day. It is a day of mourning and a day to commemorate all who lost their lives defending their Country in the Frontier Wars.
On this day, we are mindful of the multiple meanings the day has to our fellow Australians in all their diversity. We commemorate all who lost their lives in the founding of the nation and celebrate the resilience and strength of First Nations survivors.
We seek another day for celebrating our beautiful country; a day when all Australians can come together joyfully to reflect on the precious, diverse environments and cultures that are Australia.
Celebrating with First Nations Peoples
We recognise days of significance to First Nations peoples within Australia as days to celebrate their strengths and cultures, to acknowledge the impact of policies, to reflect on progress that has been achieved and to recommit to achieving equality. These days of significance include:
13 February – Anniversary of National Apology Day
21 March – National Close the Gap Day
26 May – National Sorry Day
27 May –Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum
27 May to 3 June – National Reconciliation Week
3 June – Mabo Day
1 July – Coming of the Light
July – NAIDOC Week (varies each year - visit the NAIDOC week website)
4 August – National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day
9 August – International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
First Wednesday in September – Indigenous Literacy Day
13 September – Anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People
Visit Evolve Communities’ Shared History page for more information.
In Summary
Humanists Australia recognises and respects the profound cultural heritage of First Nations peoples, whose connection to Country spans over 65,000 years. We are committed to fostering inclusion, equality and reconciliation by amplifying First Nations voices and standing alongside them in the pursuit of justice.
We proudly support the Uluru Statement from the Heart, embracing its key pillars of Voice, Treaty and Truth. We advocate for structural reforms that acknowledge historical truths and promote meaningful change.
We understand that Australia Day holds different meanings for different people, and we support finding a new day for national celebration that unites all Australians.
As allies, we actively listen to First Nations perspectives, honor significant dates in their history and celebrate their strength and cultural contributions. Through these actions, we reaffirm our commitment to building a more equitable and inclusive future for all.
Acknowledgements
Initial draft: Mary-Anne Cosgrove
Advisers:
AJ Williams-Tchen, Wiradjuri, Girraway Ganyi Consultancy
Bruce Pascoe, Koori, Enterprise Professor, Indigenous Agriculture, Melbourne University
A third First Nations adviser has requested not to be named due to workplace considerations
Contributors: Jenni Rickard, Meg Moller, Andrew Dahms. We would also like to acknowledge the thoughtful feedback provided by Geoff Allshorn, Melissa Robbie, Scott O’Keefe, Ben van der Linden and other HA members.
Coordinator: Mary-Anne Cosgrove
