chronically chill

WHAT DOES 26TH OF JANUARY MEAN TO FIRST PEOPLES?

‘Invasion Day is probably the day where I’m most reflective of the past, the struggle of my old people. The terror and the resistance. My grandfathers who laid down their lives for country, my grandmothers who were massacred by forcing to jump down cliff faces holding their children, my own mother and grandmother who were stolen away. I think of my own position as a young black woman, that despitethe massacres, the rape, the theft of country that I’m still here as an aboriginal woman speaking language, connecting with country, doing women’s business but I’m also still fighting. I’m fighting the same fight my grandparents and great grandparents fought. It’s a day to be reflective, a day to mourn, a day to mark survival but it’s also not a day to be apathetic. It’s a day to renew the fight, the fire and the resistance, to not forget about the past but to stand up and take back what is rightfully ours.’ Min Meredith ‘26th reminds of my ancestors who fought and died for their lands!! The betrayal and genocide, the stealing of the children, which still happens today!!’ Colin McPherson, Birra-Gubba, Kamilaroi ‘I’ve never used the term “Australia Day” to me it’s always been “Invasion Day” and personally, it should mean a day of reflection and acknowledgement of the True, Real history, not some idealistic fabrication of white mans theft of nations among many other atrocities.’ Vanessa Ross, Bunjalung ‘Invasion day to me is a day of mocking! ‘Australians’ mock the invasion with a term know as celebration. What a joke. Australia was not founded in 1788. It was stolen with guns and germs and genocide among other things.’ Debbie Rosepetal Green Yamaji ‘It symbolises white man’s oppression of the true sovereign people of this land.’ Debbie Woodbridge, Wiradjuri ‘26th of January marks a brutal invasion and genocidal attempts. The truth remains unchanged we are the living breathe of resistance and resilience.’ Chantay Link ‘The Day Genocide began in our country Invasion Day and Celebrating our Sovereignty and Survival of the most Brutal Holocaust of the Oldest Civilization in the World by the most Barbaric Race in the World. We have been here since time immemorial. We will Survive this 228 years of Sophisticated Genocide in the World.’ Lee Nangala Lacey, Aboriginal Embassy Canberra. ‘Day of mourning….Day we lost our native land.’ Millie Shillingsworth, Budjiti tribe, Enngonia/Nyngan ‘Cultural survival!’ Katie Bond, Kabbi Kabbi, Wakka Wakka, Wulli Wulli, Yemen, Jagera