Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Australia Day: The 'quiet rebranding' of a controversial national
holiday
Observed annually on 26 January, Australia Day is the official national
day of Australia. It marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet of Great Brita
at a small bay of Sydney Harbor. Since 1988, participation in Australia Day has
increased, and in 1994 all states and territories began to celebrate a unified
public holiday on 26 January. However, it was also a day of invasion for indigenous
Australians as it was the beginning of colonization and dispossession of their
land, culture, and rights. In recent years, as people become more sensitive to
the native people, their culture, and their integrity, the tone of Australia
Day has been changing, with increased awareness of Indigenous perspectives and
a growing acknowledgment of reconciliation and understanding. Australians are seeking
to find more inclusive ways to celebrate their national holiday with reflection
and respect.
Read the article and learn about what Australian Day means to Australians.
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