First Nations Focus

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that these articles may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.

News Spotlight: Senator Lidia Thorpe makes international headlines after 'colonising Queen' oath

During the swearing in ceremony, Thorpe approached the dispatch box with her fist raised in a symbolic gesture of Blak resistance. When asked to declare her allegiance to the monarch, Thorpe inserted the word 'colonising' before Queen Elizabeth's title.

Speaking to SBS/NITV, the senator said her motivation for the impromptu gesture was "truth-telling".

Education: Fishing

"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been living sustainably off their waters for thousands of years. Fishing is both sustenance and cultural practice informed by ecological knowledge."

Learn more about the history and cultural significance of fishing here: https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/fishing

History: 4 August, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day

Children's Day officially started in 1988 and is now the largest day to celebrate First Nations children. Authorities recorded the 4th August as the birthday of many children they took away from their parents.

Today the day focuses on First Nations children's themes like poverty, education access and celebrates their strengths, pride and culture. x

Learn more here: https://www.aboriginalchildrensday.com.au

First Nations Action Group