Speech of welcome by Aboriginal elder Katrina Ngaitlyala Power at Anzac dawn service referencing slavery condemned as too political
A SPEECH of welcome by an Aboriginal elder at the Adelaide Anzac Day service referencing “slavery” and “invasion” has been condemned as too political by some — while others argue she simply told the truth.
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A SPEECH of welcome by an Aboriginal elder at the Adelaide Anzac Day service referencing “slavery” and “invasion” has been condemned as too political by some.
Presenting the traditional ‘Welcome To Country’ speech at the beginning of the memorial service at the National War Memorial, Kaurna elder Katrina Ngaitlyala Power made reference to the “stolen land” of her ancestors to a crowd of around 5000 people.
In addition, the journalist and activist said a relative on his return to Australia after fighting at Gallipoli had been “returned to slavery”.
She also changed the words of the 23 Psalm to include the phrase “walk through the valley of invasion.”
Bill McLaughlin, who spent 16 years in the Army Reserves, said some of the speech was an “insult” to what Anzac Day was meant to be about.
“I applauded what she said that black and white fought and died together, but when she said we invaded and took everything away and gave nothing back, it had nothing to do with Anzac Day,” Mr McLaughlin said.
“She was making a political statement.
“I think it was an insult and it was getting away from what the service was about.”
But the head of the South Australian RSL and master of ceremonies at the Dawn Service, Ian Smith, has defended Ms Powers’ right to make her statements and said her speech was “not politicised”.
“I spoke with her about what she would say but I wasn’t 100 per cent over all the detail, “Mr Smith said.
“We certainly talked about black and white moving forward together which she included.”
Mr Smith said he had been surprised by Ms Power changing the words of the 23 Psalm and could see why some veterans had been offended.
“I can see that some people with Christian backgrounds might get upset about that,” he added.
“But otherwise the things she’s talking about are factual things and we need them on the record so we can move forward together.”
Ms Power later defended her comments, saying she wanted to give “voice to all the Aboriginal people that have fought in war”.
She said only “truth telling” of history could see black and white move forward together.
“Anzac Day is the perfect time to talk about these things if black and white are going to come together in a spirit of reconciliation,” she told The Advertiser.
Duncan Symons, attending with his son who is an air force cadet, said he strongly rejected Ms Power’s rendition of the 23 Psalm and her version of history.
“We had to listen to a culturally misappropriated, bastardised version of the Psalm that included “Yea though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Invasion”,” the Grange resident said.
“These are, at best, matters of contested politico-historical interpretation.
“They are certainly not universally accepted Australian history.”
Mr Symons said he was strongly against the “misuse” of the Anzac Day Dawn Service for “political messaging”.
“I was upset she referred that we were standing on stolen Kaurna Land and to her relative returning from Gallipoli to slavery and rations,” he added.
“I’m not aware we had slavery in Australia.”
Shane Ryan, a former Adelaide resident, visiting from Queensland said he found the speech ‘particularly aggressive”.
“I haven’t heard a ‘Welcome To Country’ like that before and I didn’t think things were handled very well.
He also said Mr Smith was inappropriate to “push his agenda” about the treatment of returning soldiers.
Mr Smith reminded politicians they “bear a great responsibility” choosing to send young people to war and that they must ensure returning veterans are “treated with respect and dignity”.
Federal Education Minister and SA Senator Simon Birmingham said: “Everyone honoured with a public role to play on Anzac Day should be mindful that it’s a day to unite Australians and recognise those who’ve served our nation, not a chance to prosecute other agendas”.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Martin Hamilton-Smith said: “It is important we all remember the true purpose of Anzac Day. It is always best if other political issues are left for another time.”
Acting Premier and Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Minister Kyam Maher said: “Today is a day to honour the service and sacrifice of all Australians who have served their country. This is what I am focused on.”