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‘Coming together after a struggle’

A process of belated state-building
by
July 2021, no. 433

Everything You Need to Know About the Uluru Statement from the Heart by Megan Davis and George Williams

UNSW Press, $27.99 pb, 234 pp

‘Coming together after a struggle’

A process of belated state-building
by
July 2021, no. 433
The Uluru Statement from the Heart (photograph via From the Heart)
The Uluru Statement from the Heart (photograph via From the Heart)

The Uluru Statement from the Heart was made at a historic assembly of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at Uluru in 2017. It addresses the fundamental question of how Indigenous peoples want to be recognised in the Australian Constitution. The answer given is a First Nations ‘Voice’ to Federal Parliament protected by the Constitution, and a subsequent process of agreement-making and truth-telling. This process should be overseen by a Makarrata Commission, from the Yolngu word meaning ‘the coming together after a struggle’. Inspired by the values enshrined in the Statement, Victoria has established such a process through the Yoo-rrook Justice Commission. ‘Yoo-rrook’ is a Wemba Wemba/Wamba Wamba word meaning ‘truth’.

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