Indigenous leaders rail at 'beads and trinkets'
Indigenous leaders rail at 'beads and trinkets' - A national constitutional convention to be held at Uluru this month now seems certain to reject the minimalist model preferred by politicians, and exemplified by the government-funded Recognise campaign’s “recognition in, racism out” slogan. The Uluru gathering, which the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader had expected to present them with a reform proposal that could be taken to a referendum, will now include planning for a nationwide resistance campaign against minimalist change. The weekend meeting, on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, followed each of the previous gatherings nationwide in backing a proposed indigenous “voice” to the parliament, an elected body which would give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people influence over lawmaking.