The ACT Greens are today marking January 26 as a Day of Mourning, calling for greater discussion in the local community about how our city, as the nation's capital, should commemorate this day in years ahead.
"This day means different things to many people, but ultimately today is a day of dispossession, rather than one of unity and celebration. It is an important day to take a moment to pause and recognise the true history of our country," said ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury.
"It is great to see discussion building around Australia about what January 26 really means to us as a nation and how this date should be commemorated.
"We Greens believe the time is right to have this difficult but important discussion at a local level, to decide what the ACT should do each year on 26 January.
"Some places around the country have their flags lowered to half-mast today. Other places have this morning held a dawn service to mark today as a Day of Mourning, with ceremonies that acknowledge the deep hurt felt by First Nations people in Australia.
"As the nation's capital, we are aware that there is no government institution or place dedicated to acknowledging the tremendous losses of Aboriginal life throughout the early decades of colonisation across this continent and creating understanding of the Frontier Wars.
"I hope that through moments of truth-telling like this we can find healing and start to walk forward together."
The Greens understand the need for Truth, Treaty, Voice for First Nations peoples.
