Recognition – CASSE Australia

July 10, 2019

VOICE, TRUTH, TREATY

By Pamela Nathan Creating A Safe Supportive Environment (CASSE) wholeheartedly supports NAIDOC Week celebrations held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements […]

March 8, 2019

Three stories, one message

By Pamela Nathan There are three exceptional – and very moving – essays that I have read recently that share a common thread – the critical […]

December 17, 2017

John, Lord Alderdice (pictured above) is an International Ambassador for CASSE and a determined advocate for conflict resolution and social justice. He has forwarded to CASSE, for distribution to our network, the following correspondence regarding the role of the Government of England in relation to recognition of, and treaties with, First Nations people of Australia, Canada and New Zealand. He has also invited suggestions for follow-up questions.

October 28, 2016

Dear Antoinette

Australia has not been a country of master-slave, but a servile consciousness has been perpetuated by the declaration of Terra Nullius, of needing to grant citizenship and land rights and having corralled people into settlements, curfews and 'half-caste' regulations. Gary’s Letter to Antoinette is a very moving letter of remembrance, of deep apology and a wish to repair damage done from a man who grew up in Cape Town, South Africa.

September 20, 2016

A week of pride, shame and hope in parliament

Last week Australia was presented with the Maiden Speeches of our new politicians. While often this time passes with little to cause more than a ripple, this week was different. There were waves of pride, followed by a tsunami of shame, followed by healing waves of hope.

September 16, 2016

Recognition? It’s a matter of life and death in Aboriginal Australia.

As an ABC documentary to air on September 20 asks 'RECOGNITION: Yes or No?', it may be time for you to get a copy of CASSE's 'Recognition' booklet and consider this question from the psychological viewpoint. Written by the Director of CASSE's Aboriginal Australian Relations Program, Pamela Nathan, in preparation for her role as a panellist at the Sydney Ideas event 'What is Recognition?', featuring Noel Pearson and Jonathan Lear, 'Recognition - A matter of life and death in Aboriginal Australia' is a 30 page booklet

June 27, 2016

Save our Women!

By Pamela Nathan “Would Indigenous women and children feel safer if constitutional recognition, or even a treaty, eventuated in Australia?” asks Hannah McGlade in ‘The Australian’. And, […]

December 9, 2015

So what is recognition?

Thanks to Sydney Ideas for hosting a terrific event last night, the 8th of December, featuring Noel Pearson and Professor Jonathan Lear in conversation discussing ‘What […]

August 24, 2015

Listening heals rifts

By Pamela Nathan As the Prime Minister immerses himself in his week long visit to the remote community of Murray Island in the Torres Strait, it […]

August 12, 2015

Recognition sleight of hand

In his opinion piece pertaining to indigenous constitutional conventions, published in 'The Australian', Wesley Aird states: "It is difficult to see how an indigenous-only process could work, given there is no way of knowing who would be eligible to participate. In any case, a referendum ought to be for all Australians." Pamela Nathan comments that Aird's arguments against indigenous constitutional conventions are a sleight of hand. If the process in the lead up to the referendum can be about recognition, consultation, discussion and the chance to have a voice and to be heard, maybe then it can also offer hope for reconciliation.

June 2, 2015

Privilege the Australian Dream…. dream the impossible dream

By Pamela Nathan Re: ‘Racist constitution does not reflect who we are‘, by Professor Mick Dodson, published in ‘The Age’, May 27, 2015 and ‘Constitutional referendum: […]