National Self-Awareness: Too Much or Too Little?

Editorial Assistant Elizabete Lasmane discusses how Australia’s proclaimed acknowledgement of its colonial history is not what she expected national accountability to look like.

Australia’s self-awareness regarding the actions of erasing Indigenous history and muting Indigenous voices. Is it considered an act of strong self-awareness or an act of shame? 

Australians. Whenever you hear Australia, I’d assume you imagine deserts, kangaroos, snakes, sharks, basically any wilderness that could and would kill you. Oh, and there is the beer culture, of course. The infamous laid-back approach to life. The country where everything is upside down - Down Under. Coming here, I was prepared for everything, expecting anything. But I was not ready for the self-awareness and the truth Australians hold about their colonial past. 

As an international student, I believe I have the authority to speak on behalf of others coming from overseas; Australia’s tragic past is known and recognised around the world, however, not as much as within Australia itself. Having such a loud acknowledgment of Australia’s history feels almost surreal, since it is not a global act nor a movement. Moreover, it is not considered the international ‘norm’ to be so open about a country’s past, since, let’s be honest, it is not something to be proud of. 

To give a very well-known example, North America. America’s colonial past is known globally, yet it is Australians who have a personal duty to educate, help, ask for mercy, and try to earn the forgiveness of the Indigenous, Torres Strait Islanders, and the First Nations people.

Such a strong feeling of guilt is evident through generations. I have noticed the presence of acknowledgement everywhere - infographics around the city, tutors and lecturers asking for acknowledgement of the country before starting the lecture, mention of the First Nation people in museums, art galleries, metro stops, universities, protests, libraries, and even in the everyday speech of young Australians. I’ve noted that whenever younger Australians speak of the horrific past, they say ‘we’ as if they themselves contributed. Moreover, if you ask almost any student, you will be pleasantly surprised by their level of knowledge and the openness with which they inform you about the past. Aussies are aware and not ashamed. Actually, some are.

It is not a secret that some Australians do not like to talk about the past. Hell, some don’t even recognise what happened. Some Aussies do not speak of the cases of the Stolen Generations and the fact that they could happen nowadays, how much trauma has been passed on, and how there is a presence of inequality between an Indigenous Australian and a non-Indigenous Australian. Spoiler alert, not in favour of the Indigenous communities. 

Yes, the Australian Government has passed on multiple initiatives to increase the quality of life for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, like the ‘Closing the Gap’^[1] initiative. And yes, a lot, a lot of Aussies are aware. But the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice Referendum?^[2]

On 14 October 2023, the constitutional referendum proposing to include the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice was rejected. With approximately 60 per cent of 15.8 million voters voting ‘NO’, it was marked as a historic referendum highlighting the implicit opinion of many Aussies. Moreover, Australia continues to exist as a constitutional monarchy with the British monarch as the head of state, thus reminding us of our colonial past every day. 

However, this article is not intended to be sad. This piece is not about bringing down well-loved Aussies; the purpose of my piece is to show that Australians have taken a stronger, more difficult position. Most countries have decided not to mention any past acts of violence through conquest. It is shameful, after all. Aussies do recognise that acknowledgement is a negative connotation, yet they take pride in their acknowledgement. 

I have yet to see a country that is so open about the mistakes of its past. 

ENDNOTES:

[1] Australian Government. (2024). Closing the Gap. Closing the Gap. https://www.closingthegap.gov.au/

[2] Wikipedia. (2023c, May 3). 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Australian_Indigenous_Voice_referendum