ITS one of Australias most divisive national holidays and now, local councils are quietly changing the date.
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Armidale Regional Council mayor Simon Murray said he would be open to moving Australia Day.
It should be a unifying day for the nation, Cr Murray said.
I think any reasonably fair-minded person would go, Hang on, this is a day in which one part of the community dont feel is important for them.
Thats a pretty significant population of Australia, if they feel that way would it really hurt the community to change it?
The Greens have made a significant push to change or dump the date.
Anaiwan community members Callum Clayton-Dixon and Gabi Briggs said the issue is about more than changing the date.
Australia is founded on a history of oppression of Aboriginal people, Ms Briggs said.
How can I be expected to celebrate when people still benefit from other peoples oppression?
How can I be expected to celebrate when people still benefit from other people's oppression?
- Gabi Briggs.
The pair said Australia needs to take serious strides toward reconciliation before a celebration should be held on any day of the year.
Its a day that celebrates the massacre and genocide of Aboriginal people, Callum Clayton-Dixon said.
For me there are three things that need to change before we can have Australia Day, Mr Clayton-Dixon said.
There needs to be a truthful acknowledgement of this countrys history, he said.
Aboriginal people need to be given land reparations, it wouldnt even affect peoples homes it would be as simple as the government signing off on legislation that hands back national parks, state parks, vacant crown lands or travelling stock routes.
We need mechanisms for genuine self-determination.
In Armidale, a Survival Day event has been organised for January 26.
Gomeroi man Rob Waters said the event is open to everyone. For me personally that day for me is a reminder of the resilience of Aboriginal people and their cultures, Mr Waters said.
To go through what we went through over the last 230 years and still be here.
The Survival Day event will see elders in the community telling stories and sharing language on country.
Its a continuation of one of the oldest surviving cultures on Earth, Mr Waters said.
But for him reconciliation is about more than just changing the date.
Do we choose the anniversary of the Myall Creek Massacre? he said.
Bad stuff happened every day and Australia Day is just a marker for the start of that.
The Survival Day event is on at the Aboriginal Community Garden, Lot 4 Mossman Street from 10am.