Uluru Statement From The Heart - Simplified Version

Stu Pocknee

09 Feb 2023

Uluru , indigenous affairs

You may have read my post analyzing the Uluru Statement From The Heart (USFTH).

Some things impressed, others not so much.

Could I have done any better? I've tried. You can judge.

My "improvements" are designed to make the document more readable, and more direct. In particular I have tried to remove things that I believe cause the document to be unnecessarily interpretable¹, ambiguous, or pointlessly contentious. The other thing I have concentrated on is the removal of distracting irrelevancies and gratuitous flummery.

Anything I found confusing I rewrote in my own words. Original intent (as I understand it at least) remains intact.

There is nothing I could do about the big gaps and omissions noted in my original post. I could not add explanations relating to poorly defined grievances, or the adequacy and appropriateness of proposed remedies.

I also made no attempt to improve perceived logic shortcomings. Even if I could, it would not be my place to.

If it is arrogant to presume to improve this document, I am not sorry. If I were trying to propagate the message in the original USFTH to someone like me, the below is how I would do it.

ULURU STATEMENT FROM THE HEART [SIMPLIFIED]

We, gathered at the 2017 First Nations National Constitutional Convention, representing the indigenous peoples of Australia, make this statement from the heart:

Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tribes were the first sovereign Nations of the Australian continent and its adjacent islands, and possessed it under our own laws and customs.

Our sovereignty is a spiritual notion based on sacred ancestral ties developed over countless millennia. It cannot be ceded or extinguished. If the sovereignty of the Crown is valid in Australia, it can only be so in coexistence with ours.

Far from being a threat, our sovereignty is a gift that can only benefit the nation.

The Crown's past failure to recognize this has resulted in shameful numbers of indigenous people suffering catastrophic disadvantage. Proportionally, we are the most incarcerated people on the planet and our youth languish in detention in obscene numbers.

In their hearts, Australians know this is not what we want for our peoples. They know that if we alone could change this, we would. This abhorrent situation is perpetuated generationally by intrinsic barriers that prevent us from attaining the equality our fellow Australians clearly desire for us. Without substantive constitutional and structural improvements this will not change.

Everyone knows our children can be productive members of Australian society. Given the opportunity, they will contribute to and enhance the nation, harnessing the unique qualities of our ancient culture and knowledge.

We call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution.

Makarrata, the coming together after a struggle, is the culmination of our agenda. It captures our aspirations for a fair and truthful relationship with the people of Australia and a better future based on justice and self-determination for all.

We seek a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making between governments and First Nations and truth-telling about our history.

In 1967 we were counted, in 2017 we seek to be heard. We invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.