Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney has been handed a declaration by the Northern Territory’s four land councils in support of a First Nations voice in the upcoming referendum.
More than 200 representatives of the Northern, Central, Tiwi and Anindilyakwa councils are gathered on the traditional lands of the Bagala (Jawoyn) people southeast of Katherine for the Barunga Festival, which began on Friday.
The 2023 Barunga Voice Declaration calls “for the recognition of our peoples in our still young constitution by enshrining our voice to the parliament and executive government, never to be rendered silent with the stroke of a pen again”.
Northern Land Council chair Samuel Bush-Blanasi said the Aboriginal people of the NT were standing strong together.
“We speak for our clans, communities and our families, asking all Australians to support us and vote ‘yes’ so we can finally be respected as equals,” he said.
The declaration comes 35 years after the original 1988 Barunga Statement, which called for the recognition of Aboriginal rights and culture and was presented to former prime minister Bob Hawke by NLC chair Yunupingu and CLC chair Wenten Rubuntja.
The land council members are the elected representatives of tens of thousands of residents of remote communities, town camps and towns across the Territory.
Central Land Council chair Matthew Palmer said most Aboriginal people across the country support a First Nations voice.
“Please don’t let the nay-sayers in Canberra confuse you,” he said.
“Support us by voting ‘yes’.”
Anindilyakwa Land Council deputy chair Thomas Amagula said the voice was about respect and coming together as a country to build a future everyone can be proud of.
“This is what those old leaders started back in 1988 and we stand here today to carry on the spirit of their legacy,” he said.
Tiwi Land Council chair Gibson Farmer Illortaminni also urged people to support the voice.
“Through the proposed referendum and the establishment of a voice to parliament, we, the Tiwi people, want to be at the table when decisions are made that affect our land, culture and future,” he said.
The Barunga Statement presented in 1988 now hangs in Parliament House in Canberra.
It calls for the recognition of Indigenous land rights, the establishment of a Treaty and the implementation of a national policy of self-determination for Indigenous Australians.
Patrick Dodson was a director of the Central Land Council at the time and said he remembers Mr Hawke’s promise of treaty, which was immediately opposed by then opposition leader John Howard.
“As sincere as Hawke’s impulsive declaration had been, it was political overreach and he had to reshape his reconciliation agenda,” Senator Dodson wrote in The Australian.
As a result of the 1988 gathering, Yothu Yindi went on to write the hit song Treaty, which noted that Hawke’s promise disappeared “just like writing in the sand”.
Ms Burney will give a keynote address on Friday evening at the festival, which includes music, dance, sport and art and cultural workshops.