Key dates

Date

Event

Significance

26 January

Survival Day

• Known as “Australia Day”
• 26 January 1788 is the day First Fleet commander Captain Arthur Phillip rowed ashore at Sydney Cove, raised the Union Jack and proclaimed British sovereignty over part of the continent in 1788.
• First Nation’s mark this day as the day they survived British Colonisation.

13 February

National Apology Day

• Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered the apology to Stolen Generations in 2008

21 February

International Mother Language Day

• Pre-colonisation Australia had over 250 languages but the threat of language loss is a serious risk to First Nation’s people’s culture and heritage
• It was made illegal for First Nations people to speak their mother tongue up until the 1970s due to government policy

Third Thursday of March

National Close the Gap Day

• Closing the Gap is a National Agreement and commitment to the betterment of First Nations lives.

21 March

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

• In Australia this is known as “Harmony Day” as Prime Minister John Howard did not believe Australia needed to actively combat racism – inherently denying racism existed in Australia.

5 April, 1997

“Bringing Them Home” Stolen Generations 1997 report was released. 

• The report was the result of a national inquiry that investigated the forced removal of Indigenous children from their families. This marked a pivotal moment in the healing journey of many Stolen Generations members. It was the first time their stories—stories of being taken from their families—were acknowledged in such a way

15 April, 1991

Aboriginal Deaths in Custody report by the Royal Commission was released. 

• On 10 August 1987 Prime Minister Hawke announced the formation of a Royal Commission to investigate the causes of deaths of Aboriginal people who were held in state and territory gaols.
• The Royal Commission produced a number of reports, including individual reports for each death investigated. 
• The final report, signed on 15 April 1991, made 339 recommendations.

1 May, 1946

Pilbara Aboriginal Stockmen’s Strike

26 May

National Sorry Day

• First “Sorry Day” was in 1998
• Day to remember the removal of First Nations children from their families. The children affected are now known as the Stolen Generations.

27 May

Anniversary of the 1967 referendum

• It changed the constitution to allow First Nations people to be counted in the census and to enable the Commonwealth government to make laws for First Nations people.

29 May

• 29 May 1992 was the launch of the Torres Strait Islander flag, designed by Bernard Namonk

• This week celebrations First Nations history and culture and is intended to create discussion and opportunity for non-First Nations Australia to reconcile with First Nations people.

3 June

Mabo Day

• Celebrates the 1992 High Court decision thar rules in favour of Eddie Koiki Mabo and others who’s people had occupied the island of Mer in the Torres Strait prior to the British arrival
• This historic decision effectively recognised the existence of native title rights and rejected the concept of terra nullius, which claimed Australia was a land belonging to no-one prior to British colonisation.

11 June 1988

Baruna Statement

• Presented by First Nations people to Prime Minister Hawke.

21 June, 2007

Prime Minister John Howard declares the Northern Territory Intervention.

• In June 2007, the federal government staged a massive intervention in the NT to "protect Aboriginal children" from sexual abuse. Without consultation Aboriginal peoples' lives were heavily regulated, and many felt ashamed and angry.
• Despite wide-spread protests the intervention was extended until 2022.

First week of July

NAIDOC Week

• Celebration of the history, culture and achievements of First Nation’s people.

4 August

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day

• Celebration of First Nation’s children
• August 4th was the recorded birthday of many children they took away from their parents
• There is also a focus now on prevalent themes in First Nation’s children’s lives such as poverty, education access

9 August

UN’s International Day of Indigenous Peoples

• The goal is to strengthen international awareness and cooperation for solutions to the problems faced by First Nations people in human rights, development, health, etc.

First Wednesday of September

Indigenous Literacy Day

• Opportunity to fundraise and advocate for remote communities to have equal access to literacy resources.

26 October 1985

• Uluru is returned to Traditional Owners.

30 October 1975

Racial Discrimination Act takes effect.

• The Act makes racial discrimination in certain contexts unlawful in Australia, and also overrides state and territory legislation to the extent of any inconsistency.