Let's get real.You can argue that some policies in the past...

Let's get real.

You can argue that some policies in the past weren't too smart, but my reading of history is that for the most part, Australians were ALWAYS cognisant of the aboriginal place in this country.

My family has been in this country since 1821 as free people and I know their story.

Yes, they occupied aboriginal lands but it was nebulous in that there was no fighting.

That doesn't mean they are innocent NOR does it mean they understood they were confiscating aboriginal land.

We can't turn back history here any more than we can in Brittain or Europe etc.

We can at least acknowledge prior ownership of this land.

That is a small action.

Yes, no body of peoples can dwell in the past. We can't dwell on when we were part of the Brittish Empire, we can't even dwell on the fact our Dad was a success.

Aboriginal people need to to focus on a future NOT just a past. A PAST does have significance and values BUT ONLY if it ensures survival.

For all of us, dwelling on the past may offer some instruction, but if it doesn't point us to the future then it is a waste.