First Nations pop star Isaiah Firebrace drives mission to introduce indigenous history class in schools

Isaiah Firebrace hopes to present his wildly successful petition to introduce Aboriginal History Class in schools to the Federal Government.

First Nations pop star Isaiah Firebrace plans to lobby the Federal Government to introduce Aboriginal history classes to primary and second school after a wildly successful petition took off during 2021 Naidoc Week.

Firebrace launched his petition on change.orgeight months ago with a target of 75,000 signatures but it exploded to more than 270,000 this week when the activism platform combined similar efforts to strengthen its reach.

The 21-year-old X Factor find and Eurovision representative is currently on his Spirit and Beyond tour to regional communities to help inspire indigenous and non-indigenous youth to pursue their dreams.

Isaiah Firebrace launched his petition eight months ago. Picture: Supplied

He has also released a new single Blame On Me which is scoring playlist ads on commercial radio and streaming platforms.

“I speak to so many kids in my regional workshops and all we want as a community is to be heard and for more Australians to understand and respect our beautiful culture,” he said.

“Education is the key and the sooner we can make Aboriginal history a must in curriculums across Australia in primary and secondary schools the better!

“Kids are the key and I know and believe that they are the most important part of change – so let’s teach them about our history – the good and the bad.”

Firebrace, who said he was inspired to become more involved in First Nations issues during the Black Lives Matter protests last year, hopes to present the petition personally to the Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge.

Firebrace is celebrating “Happy Naidoc Week” with his Spirit and Beyond tour. Picture: Instagram

“I would love to take this petition to Canberra and present it to the Minister and I’d love to sit down and tell him what I see and hear while I’m on the road,” Firebrace said.

“There is way too much divisiveness around the issue, we need to unite and work together and put politics aside.

“I am trying to be a strong voice for young Aboriginal people and anything I can do to improve things for my people is what I am meant to be doing.”

Change.org Australian campaigns director Nic Holas said the petition’s success sent a clear message to government that people wanted “the true history of this country to be taught in schools.”

“Isaiah’s voice is loved by so many people in Australia and it’s fantastic he’s using it in a different, but still powerful way, to make this overdue change happen,” he said.

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Originally published as First Nations pop star Isaiah Firebrace drives mission to introduce indigenous history class in schools