A day in the life of indigenous Australia: From Flora and Fauna to personhood

Abstract

At a 2018 Reconciliation Week talk at the Australian National University ('ANU'), a student commented on how Australia has an enviable human rights record. He noted it was a favoured destination for immigrants from all parts of the world, was an affluent and successful multi-cultural, multi-religious society and enjoyed freedoms that were the envy of world. Most importantly, he also noted that First Nations peoples were recognised at formal events through 'Welcome or Acknowledgement of Country' addresses (including an opening statement made at that particular Reconciliation week function) and seem to enjoy great respect. He rather quizzically asked 'what more' could First Nations people want? The underlying tone of the question was that Indigenous people were ingrate and that the insistence by Indigenous people for 'further' recognition was much more than was reasonably warranted or necessary.