Reconciliation !

This Australia day brought contrasting sights in many cities.  Indigenous people in ceremonial dress performed " smoking ceremonies " to bless recognition of the arrival of Europeans here in 1788 and others marched in protest at the same event, which they called " Invasion day ".

There is pressure to abandon January twenty-six because many Indigenous Australians claim they can not celebrate the loss of  the land beneath their feet - which a foreign country annexed without their permission.   This rejection takes many forms.   The moderates demand recognition as the previous owners of Australia and the more extreme want white Australia  returned to from whence they came.

There seems to be universal acclamation that this great land mass was not claimed by a number of European countries and divided into separate colonies with fixed borders and individual languages - as happened in Africa.  A lot of wrongs have been righted and Australia's Indigenous people are now equal citizens in this prosperous country but many still need to adapt to the benefits that this nation has to offer.

We live in a dangerous world.  The creation of " empires " is still valid in some minds and we are small in numbers on the verge of vastly overcrowded Asia.  It seems certain that we face internal change in the years ahead, and discarding the monarchy for a Republican form of government is already under discussion.  When - and if - that happens it will require a new flag to identify us in the world.   That could present an opportunity to formerly recognise our Indigenous brothers and sisters in a meaningful way.   If we simple replaced the Union Jack in the upper right corner of our flag with the Aboriginal flag this combination would recognise those who were here before 1788 and those who came after that date.by the stars of the Southern Cross and the Federation star.

It seems inevitable that in the years ahead there will be a close mingling of Indigenous Australians in all walks of life.  The key will be education standards that enable a choice between a lifestyle that remains close to traditional culture or integration in the commercial world that delivers the style of living most take for granted.  Each generation will have the opportunity to make that choice.

There is a danger that this cultural bridge between Indigenous people who have embraced the opportunities of our commercial culture and achieved a rewarding lifestyle and those still clinging to a traditional life may become impossible to join together.  There is an anger and a rejection that has found a home with many non Indigenous citizens and this was illustrated by the crowds noisily protesting on Australia day.

Reconciliation between these two great groupings will be a slow progress as educated children find their place in society and permeate all professional levels.   What is encouraging is the ready acceptance of  " smoking ceremonies " to add an Indigenous aspect to most civic events.  It seems that the bridging of Indigenous and non-Indigenous is well under way !