FIRE Carriers

Hello OLA community! 

I’m Ben and I am one of the 2023 FIRE Carriers. I am very proud to have this leadership role.

I have chosen, for my FIRE Carrier fun fact, to do the Uluru statement canvas because I am quite fascinated about Aboriginal history and protests for Indigenous rights. I also have a big interest in art and I have a huge amount of creativity so that is why I chose to talk about an important Aboriginal art piece.

In 2017, over 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders gathered in the area of Uluru to sign the canvas. Each signature was put towards a better future for Australia, a future where everyone is equal and everyone is understanded. People from all over the southern sky came to make this statement straight from the heart.

Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people were the first on our land, but for years these people were silenced and controlled by Commonwealth law. Our Aboriginal ancestors created the beauty and nature of Australia 60,000+ years ago but were taken away from their ties to Mother Nature. Each signature was to bring back the Indigenous’ ancestral connection to our country’s land.

How is it that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people reigned the nation for 60 millennia and lost this sacred connection in the last 200 years?

The Indigenous community still got a minor backlash after releasing the Uluru Statement but, now in 2023 over 70% of Australians support The Uluru Statement.

In 1967 protests for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights had started, and in 2017 all Aboriginals were heard. This was because of The Uluru Statement.

I believe that in the near future, the Indigenous people will regain this link to Australia’s nature and land. I hope the Indigenous community will teach their history to 'Commonwealth Australia’s' future.

I am very happy for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to finally be heard and get their rights.

Ben S

2023 FIRE Carrier