Recognising community truth-telling: An exploration of local truth-telling in Australia
The Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation is proud to launch the new report, ‘Recognising community truth-telling: An exploration of local truth-telling in Australia’. This report is based on a unique collaborative study with Reconciliation Australia documenting grassroots community truth-telling in Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have long called for truth-telling about the colonial past, most recently in the 2017 Uluru Statement. Numerous community projects have emerged to engage with these historical truths. However, few of these initiatives have been documented. The report seeks to highlight this important community work as it provides crucial lessons for how the vision of truth-telling can be realised.
The study demonstrates the immense perseverance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in undertaking truth-telling, often with limited resources and support. This community work has had a significant impact in shifting the national narrative about Australia’s colonial history. However, there is much more work to be done to support truth-telling in Australia.
This panel discussion, held on 7 September 2023, was opened by Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine and featured speakers from local truth-telling projects who shared their experiences of truth-telling. The discussion focused on the important lessons we can draw from these grassroots engagements with Australia’s colonial history as the country grapples with how the vision of truth-telling in the Uluru Statement could be realised in a way that meaningfully transforms social and political relations in the country.
Mayapa Weeyn: This sculpture pays tribute to the Cart Gunditj and all fifty-nine clans of the Dhauwurd Wurrung near the site of the first recorded massacre in Victoria at Convincing Ground. Designed and constructed by Walter Saunders, with construction assistance by Jason Scott and Andrew Walsh. Photo by Damian Goodman.
Read more about the report here: https://adi.deakin.edu.au/recognising...