Aboriginal hopes and apprehension

Gomeroi Dance Company’s Marc Sutherland said, while change is urgently needed, he feared the national Recognise campaign would result in mere symbolism, rather than rea,l positive change. 

“The idea of the referendum is a massive moment that could change the course of Australian history,” Mr Sutherland said. 

“But at the moment it’s still very vague in what it’s going to say, what it’s going to change.

“I’m cautious that the wording within something like this about a change in the constitution ... can be watered down so much that it’s just a glossy acknowledgment that has no practical change or no improvement for Aboriginal people.”

The Recognise campaign has seen a wave of support, with an ANU poll finding 82 per cent of people supported removing clauses from the constitution that “discriminate on the basis of race”. 

But, according to some outspoken Aboriginal elders, the majority of Indigenous people are against the campaign and would prefer a treaty to constitutional recognition. 

Mr Sutherland said these were wide and diverse views on the issue within the Aboriginal community, but it worried him that even if all Aboriginal people – who make up less than 3 per cent of the Australian population – opposed the referendum question, it could still pass a majority and potentially entail negative impacts for Indigenous people. 

He fears Indigenous people – who make up roughly 16 per cent of Tamworth’s population – could be robbed of a decision made about their fate on a national level. 

“What we’re looking for most here in Aboriginal community, especially in Tamworth and across Gomeroi country, is better outcomes and more self-determination, more rights toward Aboriginal land and sites, and getting some power back to ourselves in the community to be able to create a future,” he said. 

“Someone could have the best intentions and, without knowing it, could support something that’s really detrimental to Aboriginal people.

“I know there’s a lot of goodwill and support from non-Aboriginal people right across the country.

“The community should listen to the voice of Aboriginal people around it.”

He said there were hundreds of sites in Tamworth Aboriginal people had a connection with, but no rights to them. 

“Traditionally, culturally and spiritually, Aboriginal people have connections to the land which are generational,” he said. 

“Through the dance company and working with young people, our main issue is strengthening identity and cultural values.

“What we’ve been asking for years is to have rights to continue our culture and the right to determine what that looks like.”