There has been a mixture of reactions across First Nations communities in Australia following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Britain’s longest reigning monarch recently passed away peacefully in Scotland at the age of 96.
As a symbol of colonisation, the Queen was seen by some as a divisive figure to First Nations people in this country and overseas. While some Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities have remembered her with fondness, others look to a different future.
Pat Miller was born in Alice Springs in 1947, into a family that has long associations with Central Australia. Her father, Milton Liddle, was the son of Bill Liddle, a pioneer bushman of Scottish descent. Milton’s mother, Mary, was an Arrernte woman. Pat’s mother, Polly, was an Alyawarra woman from the country around Hatches Creek and Kurrundi station, north east of Alice Springs. Pat has always been proud of her mixed descent and she has drawn strength and inspiration from the full diversity of her personal heritage. In 2002 Dr Miller was appointed as Deputy of the Administrator of the Northern Territory .
Morris Stuart was born in the former British colony Guiana on the northern coast of south America before moving to the UK. He has also lived in New Zealand but after nearly 40 years in Melbourne he now calls Australia home.
Morris is the founder and director of the Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir whose journey was featured in a 2017 documentary, The Song Keepers, as well as on Australian Story on ABC Television.
He was awarded the AM (Member of the Order of Australia) for significant service to the Indigenous community and to choral music.
Veteran Tasmanian human rights campaigner Michael Mansell is an Aboriginal leader who has worked for social, political and legal changes to improve the lives and social standing of his people, the Palawa.
In 1977 Mansell met with the Queen during her Silver Jubilee tour of Australia where he presented her with a petition for Aboriginal land rights and box of beads and trinkets in exchange for the return of their land.
Michael is a qualified barrister and solicitor of the Supreme court of Tasmania and the High court of Australia.
Legendary storyteller and voice for the Stolen Generations, Uncle Jack Charles, spent decades in and out of prison due to drug addiction and the trauma that he experienced as a child.
During his long running production Jack Charles v The Crown, the stage and screen actor was well known for calling on the crown to take responsibility for the years of abuse and oppression he had experienced throughout his life.
Uncle Jack founded one of Australia’s first indigenous theatre groups in Melbourne in 1971 and went on to become known as the “grandfather” of Aboriginal theatre.
Uncle Jack, who died this month, had previously shared his thoughts about the monarchy with CAAMA .
