The indigenous peoples of Australia have once again taken part in the Barunga Festival, an annual event celebrating traditional Aboriginal culture and sport. This year, however, it also marked the twentieth anniversary of the Barunga Statement, issued in 1988 by the then Prime Minister, Bob Hawke. The Statement called for an end to discrimination, compensation for loss of lands and Aboriginal self-government, and was intended to lead to a treaty within two years, that is before 1990.

Twenty years later and no treaty has even been signed. The Australian state has made major progress in indigenous affairs, however, symbolized by the historic apology given by the current Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, on 13 February.

Conscious of the limited success of the Barunga Statement, Bob Hawke said that, despite the progress that has been made, “action is needed on indigenous affairs”. Meanwhile, indigenous groups are keen to point out that the Government’s words are not enough. In particular, they are calling for Australia to change its stance on and lend its support to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Aborigines are also demanding compensation for the Stolen Generations, the indigenous children who were removed from their families by the state between the end of the nineteenth century and the 1970s. Since 1998 the Stolen Generations have been commemorated every year on 26 May, or National Sorry Day.

Image: Flag of the Australian Aborigines, which is officially recognized by the Australian state.

Further information:

• The Sydney Morning Herald: A score to celebrate in sport, music and dance
  
• ABC News: Act on Indigenous affairs, Hawke says
  
• MónDivers: Veus a Austràlia perquè el Govern compensi les Generacions Robades
  
• Nationalia: Australian Parliament apologizes to Aborigines