“All you fellas in the dark, I’m sorry!” exclaimed Alan Madden of the Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council to a dimly lit, full house at the Sydney Opera House last week.
The night was in honour of Aboriginal Leader Patrick Dodson, who in May of this year was awarded the 2008 City of Sydney Peace Prize.
It is Australia’s only international peace prize and now in its 11th year, Mr Dodson is the second Australian to receive the award.
The peace prize was established in 1998 with the goal of promoting peace with justice through dialogue and non violent means. Former recipients have included Nobel Peace Prize winner, Desmond Tutu; Sir William Deane, the former Governor-General of Australia; and Hans Blix, chairman of the UN Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission.
Mr Dodson, former Chairman of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and Australia’s first ordained Aboriginal Catholic priest, has been labelled the “Father of Reconciliation”.
With his involvement in Indigenous land rights and his strong advocacy of human rights, he was a natural choice for the award.
“To be awarded [this prize] is a humbling experience,” Mr Dodson said.
“One wonders if your voice is heard, the Aboriginal leaders’ voices have finally been heard.”
He acknowledged Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s apology and believed that with this simple act we have been given an opportunity to begin a new dialogue. A dialogue that establishes “a new philosophical framework for the nation, a nation that is at peace with itself and equipped to handle these economic times,” Mr Dodson said.
He stated that it was essential that we looked after our land and learnt to care for the country and what we took from it.
“We must accept the truth of our past [in order] to deliver peace and justice in the future, a future founded on more than [just] words and good intentions.”
Mr Dodson stressed the importance of dialogue and a settling of our differences in order to establish a global identity. One that can help sustain the environment, humanity and the economy.
To do this it was essential that there was consultation, negotiation and partnership on all issues, he said. The Indigenous community must be involved in the planning, implementation and delivery of new policies.
He acknowledged that it is the responsibility of all Aboriginal people to play a role in finding a solution.
“We must all contribute to our healing process. Young Aboriginal people should participate in the broader economy, aim to become wage earners and creators of the wealth,” he said.
“We must develop ways to appreciate the original people of this land and remove the concept of terra nullius to a land that we care for.”
“The day I dream of is the day when justice and peace has arrived in Australia.”
The evening concluded with a performance by the Moorambilla Children’s Choir and a thanks by The Hon Linda Burney MP, Minister for Community Services in New South Wales.
Ms Burney remarked that Patrick Dodson was the catalyst who had helped change the landscape of our nation.
Mr Dodson was officially presented with the award on November 6 at the University of Sydney.
