Indigenous leader says Harmony Day a ‘good thing’ after failed voice

A prominent Indigenous leader says Harmony Week provides a ‘safe middle ground’ following a ­failed voice referendum.

Gene Blow performs an Indigenous smoking ceremony to keep students safe as part of Harmony Day celebrations. Picture: Kevin Farmer

A prominent Indigenous leader says Harmony Week provides a “safe middle ground” for Australians to learn about and celebrate distinct cultures following a ­failed voice referendum where the overriding lesson was that “non-Indigenous Australians … don’t know enough about Australia’s First Peoples”.

It comes after the racism watchdog warned schools celebrating Harmony Day that the “focus on harmony can gloss over ­racism’’ and “damage … our anti-racism ­efforts’’.

The Australian Human Rights Commission also complained that Australia’s decision to rename March 21 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination as Harmony Day in 1999 “turned the day from a protest against ­racial discrimination into a celebration’’.

Businessman Sean Gordon, who formerly co-convened Liberals for Yes and was a member of the government’s referendum working group, said that “in a world of division and uncertainty it is important that we have the opportunity to ­acknowledge and celebrate all peoples and cultures”.

“If Harmony Week provides an opportunity for all of us to listen and learn about our multicultural society, then I reckon that’s a good thing. Because right now all we have are echo chambers of groups who seek to reinforce their own views, opinions and ideologies without any consideration of their impact on others.

“My greatest lesson from the referendum to recognise Indigenous people wasn’t losing, but understanding that non-Indigenous Australians, quite ­frankly, don’t know enough about Australia’s first peoples. Harmony Week provides a safe space or middle ground where communities and people can come together and positively share and celebrate their distinct and unique cultures.”

Indigenous leader Sean Gordon. Picture: Sue Graham

Mr Gordon also said that “eliminating racial discrimination cannot be confined to a one-day awareness campaign”.

“We have to be resolute in our efforts to call out racist behaviour and discriminative practices. We are after all a multicultural country.”

Leaders from various multicultural communities across Australia have defended Harmony Day/Week after the AHRC took aim at the event.

Many childcare centres and schools have embraced Harmony Day as a way for children to learn about different cultures by sharing food, dressing in traditional costumes, learning songs and dances, and enjoying visits from family members and Indigenous elders.

In a new fact sheet, the AHRC states that the “renaming of this day hides the longstanding systemic racial discrimination many people have faced in ­Australia”.

Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann, of Victoria’s Modern Orthodox Jewish congregation, the ARK Centre, told The Australian that “having a nationally dedicated day to celebrate our diverse histories and traditions is part of our uniquely Australian society”.

“It is a good thing we have this time where we can come together and learn positive things about the different cultures that make up our great country – a practice that helps break down barriers and bring us closer together. Not every national day needs to focus on discrimination,” he said.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare also defended schools’ ­celebration of Harmony Day.