Pip-Life Social Justice

Here’s Where You Can Buy A Map Of Aboriginal Australia

February 4, 2016

 

On Australia Day I posted a map of Australia. You might have seen it on my Facebook or Instagram or Twitter account?

I honestly am not a fan of Australia Day in any way, shape or form, so am (like many others) always trying to find ways to deal with that day in some kind of constructive way.

This year, I posted a map of Australia (the kind that recognises aboriginal territories) and some links to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation’s donation page (as well as donating to the ILF.)

I know I’m not the only one to feel a sense of shame on January 26th. A lot of people are confused about ‘Australia Day’. Many people wish we celebrated our country on a different day and in a more inclusive way that’s respectful of our history and ancient heritage.

After I posted this map, people were wondering how to find out more about Aboriginal Australia and its boundaries/people. Lots of people had never seen such a map before. They also wanted to know how to buy a map. I now have some answers for you. Phew.

You can grab your own map via the rad people at The Australian Institute Of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Studies. They sell maps in two different sizes and also have more information on Australia’s original territories, culture and people.

Buy a map here.
Study up on our history here.

(Really, we need to celebrate an Australian national day in a way that its original people would choose, don’t you think?)

How do you feel about Australia Day, guys?

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10 Comments

  • Reply Isabel February 16, 2016 at 3:30 PM

    I used to a have a copy of this map blue-tacked to the wall but somehow it got lost in various moves. Thanks for reminding us of this important map and where to buy it. I will get my hands on a copy. I agree that we should have a national day of celebration but there are 364 better days to do it on than Jan 26th. I cringe every year that that is the day we still choose. It is seriously unbelievable that indigenous Australians are still not included in the constitution either. The symbolic is important, and symbols can be changed.

  • Reply Rondelle February 12, 2016 at 9:43 AM

    I’m not a fan of the date either. I honestly can’t see this wonderful country being at peace while we continue to celebrate the date that our indigenous people rightly claim as invasion day. And when people say they should get over it and move on I want to smack them in the face. Seriously, imagine if we got invaded by China or some other country today and they came in and changed everything about how we live. They would also tell us that we are completely wrong in everything we’ve ever known and that we now must do things their way. I wonder how happy our descendants would be to celebrate this day in 200 years time.

  • Reply Kath February 5, 2016 at 9:47 AM

    I’m with you on this Pip. While I feel incredibly lucky to be Australian, having it on a day that is a day of mourning for many Indigenous Australians is arrogant and cruel. Have another day celebrating our beautiful country, but make it diverse and inclusive. I also hate that it’s pretty much just become a day for racist bogans to wave the flag, get pissed and call everyone who doesn’t do the same ‘unAustralian’.

  • Reply Kathryn February 5, 2016 at 8:36 AM

    I’m so excited about the map! I encourage my couples to have an ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ at the start of their ceremony and always spend a long time checking the traditional owners of different parts of Australia! I can’t wait to get this map up on my wall. I love it. And I 100%agree with you Pip about Australia Day. I frankly find it cringeworthy, as I do the Union Jack in the corner of the flag. Wouldn’t it be great if we could have ‘Reconciliation Day’ to replace the Queen’s Birthday AND Australia Day? Sigh.

  • Reply Stel February 5, 2016 at 1:17 AM

    In RSA the same debate is raging – the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck is not even celebrated, our new “national day is now Freedom Day, marking the first democratic election, which is good.
    But (yes but)…I hear what Marie is saying. Not celebrating dates do not undo history. And that day in history, of any country, marks the change in that country, leading up to the current day. We only debate these things, because we know about it, because it is well documented, and because we’re judging it from a 2016 point of view, not the 1788 , or 1652 (RSA) point of view. And that’s a whole different view.

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes February 5, 2016 at 6:24 AM

      Exactly – but I think this is why January 26th is a day of mourning for indigenous Australia – and that our national day should be rescheduled and rethought. I am not saying let’s not celebrate our nation – I am saying it’s time for a rethink. Of course you can’t undo history – and personally I am interested in doing all we can for reconciliation – we can move into the future with a more respectful view of our history. This would be an important first step.

      • Reply Stel February 5, 2016 at 4:29 PM

        That is very true! The only difficulty is getting something all can agree on.

  • Reply Peter Mc February 4, 2016 at 8:50 PM

    I’m with you Pip. The reluctance to move the day smacks of arrogance. We can be just as proud on a different date without trying to rub indigenous noses in it.

    It’s currently a day for pollies and spin doctors and I’d love Aussies to claim it back for themselves.

  • Reply Marie Biswell February 4, 2016 at 1:46 PM

    Honestly, I love Australia Day. I love being an Aussie and I love celebrating being an Aussie.
    but, I hear you say but…
    ..yes but.
    BUT that was in the past, the only way we can move on is to embrace the past (as we can’t change it) and celebrate what we are today as, well, we are what we are today.
    How dare I?
    Geesh, yes I dare. I am Australian. My husband is Australian. My children are Australian.
    …and if people think that I have NO right to think the way that we do (as a family) then lookie here … https://www.dropbox.com/s/i382612e8ybp8uy/160116WINNews.m4v?dl=0
    —- that is my child in it, so yes we are ‘truly’ Australian.

    • Reply Meet Me At Mikes February 4, 2016 at 3:40 PM

      I think we should have a National Day – but not on the day white settlers invaded this country. I love being Australian – but I don’t love celebrating on a day that’s really a day of mourning for an entire part of our community. Thanks for your view though. Definitely not how dare you. Of course it’s your right to do whatever makes sense for you and your family.

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