- cross-posted to:
- news@beehaw.org
- cross-posted to:
- news@beehaw.org
Australians have resoundingly rejected a proposal to recognise Aboriginal people in its constitution and establish a body to advise parliament on Indigenous issues.
Saturday’s voice to parliament referendum failed, with the defeat clear shortly after polls closed.
Hmm, maybe it's because in our western states Indian tribes are a larger percentage of the population, or maybe it's because our mistreatment of the various tribes has led to countless wars and atrocities; but I couldn't imagine a scenario where one party established this branch and another removes it. But I'm not from Australia.
This is where the US is waves ahead of Australia. The indigenous population is small now (2%) but hasn't always been, and we put them (and still do) through many, many atrocities… If you're at all interested, check out indigenous deaths in custody. There's also the constant destruction of their traditional heritage (birthing trees, rock art etc.). The stereotype here for an Aboriginal is that they're drunkards and drug users. This is not reality but a huge majority think this.
As a country, we have deep seated institutionalised racism that has taken root and flourished over the last few decades. We have this national way of thinking where the indigenous population needs to comply to our laws, our way of life. If an indigenous family wants traditional education, nah - go to one of the 'normal' schools. Want to learn an indigenous language? Nah, learn German or French or Japanese.
We also have severe tall poppy syndrome where we can't let anyone have it better than anyone else. Our Australia Day is also a huge issue since it's on the day of the first colonists landing.
All in all, we don't have an equivalent because we have a rotten attitude to our first nations.