What are we going to do?

A reflection on ways forward for non-Indigenous South Australians to respond to Indigenous South Australian concerns

South Australia has a basic responsibility to ensure justice is freely accessible to every Aboriginal person living in his/her own land. It is not the obligation of Aboriginal people to achieve this. Mainstream society must work out how it will deal with what Aboriginal South Australians need to enjoy life, and by changing its approach, attain this together.

A priority in achieving this is for all main South Australian organisations and institutions, including business, unions and universities to work together in setting an agenda in non-Aboriginal South Australia that deals with the changes that are needed in the structure of the State to endow Aboriginal people and communities with the capacity to realise the effective outcomes they need implemented by us as positive attainments on the ground.

Kevin Scarce, Governor of South Australia, recently said:
As part of the national initiation of the Wodliani Stolen Generations Coming home healing event, our Kaurna hosts have defined a new set of seven words to describe this journey of healing...
...These are important words.

The formation of the agenda needs to organise the implementation of the seven ‘R’s”:

  • Recognition
  • Respect
  • Rights
  • Reform
  • Reciprocity
  • Responsibility
  • Reparations
  1. Recognition of: “the hopes, aspirations and spirit of Indigneous people to live in this country/our country in an more equitable society”.
  2. Respect for the two common community concepts/strategies for change in outcomes for Indigenous people we know as Reconciliation and Human Rights need to work in alignment with each other and not in antagonism or misalignment
  3. Rights are a strong legal focus on striving for Human Rights and social justice
  4. Reform Reconciliation issues like flag raising, putting up signs and memorial plaques, talking and educating non-Aboriginal communities about Indigenous people and their issues, so that they include direct Human Rights pro-action
  5. Reciprocity partnerships with local Aboriginal people to work and advocate for the tough issues such as:
    • education,
    • housing,
    • employment and
    • health.
  6. Responsibility for the current situation where Indigenous people face a strongly entrenched Reconciliation Network (primarily non-Aboriginal people) that needs to be developed to uphold a basic human rights approach for Indigenous people
  7. Reparations for all Indigenous South Australians including all removed children.