Add Category
Posted
Fifty years ago, a group of Indigenous leaders stood victorious on the steps of Parliament House.
They had just helped drive the most successful referendum in the nation's history.
Nine out of 10 Australians had voted "yes" to including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the census, and allowing Parliament to make laws for Indigenous people.
Warning: This story contains images of Indigenous people who have died
Today those campaigners and their families gathered on the steps once again in celebration of what has changed and as a reminder of what remains to be done.
Aunty Diana Travis was only 19 when she came to Canberra for the third and final leg of the referendum campaign.
She was one of the youngest at the time, but today she stood as an elder.
"My journey to the 1967 referendum was very emotional," she said.
"Yes, I was only 19, but I knew that it was very important for me to be here."
Her grandfather is Sir Doug Nicholls, a Yorta Yorta man and champion of reconciliation.
"I actually went on that journey with my grandfather, and I'm very privileged that that happened, because here we are today, 50 years on," she said.
Aunty Diana said the vote brought all of Australia together.
"It was exciting and overwhelming … but the public were very knowing and generous in their over 90 per cent [vote for yes], and that needs to be acknowledged as well, especially today."
With another referendum on the horizon, Aunty Diana said she hoped it could be a moment to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia together again.
"Then we can move forward in unity," she said.
Topics: indigenous-policy, reconciliation, indigenous-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander, government-and-politics, canberra-2600, australia, act