Recognize Indigenous People in Australia's Constitution
- van: Care2.com
- ontvanger: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard
More than a century after the Australian Constitution was drafted, it still doesn't recognize Australia's Indigenous people as the first Australians.
Not acknowledging Indigenous people in the Constitution misrepresents Australia's history and sends the subliminal message that Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders aren't real Australians.
There is a massive disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in poverty, health and opportunity. But this gap can not extend to political recognition. Moreover, Australia's psychiatrists have warned that failure to recognize Indigenous populations in the Constitution is detrimental to mental health.
The national apology in 2008 was an important step, but Indigenous Australians deserve full recognition in the country's founding document. Urge Prime Minister Julia Gillard to work to pass a constitutional amendment to recognize Indigenous Australians.
Dear Prime Minister Gillard,
Indigenous people are Australians, same as their non-Indigenous countrymen. It's time they were recognized in Australia's founding document.
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There are serious implications for mental health in keeping aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders out of the constitution. Moreover it misrepresents Australia's history and de-legitimizes the citizenship of Indigenous people.
The national apology in 2008 was a good start, but we can't continue to ignore the glaring hole in that left Indigenous Australians out of the Constitution.
Please reignite this issue and pass a constitutional amendment to include Indigenous people in Australia's Constitution.
