• Finding the Heart of the Nation - Thomas Mayor

The Journey of the Uluru Statement towards Voice, Treaty and Truth

THOMAS MAYOR | REVIEW BY: DR LILY HIRSCH

Australia's Indigenous people have occupied the country for over 60,000 years and although their sovereignty has been usurped for the last two hundred and thirty years, it has never been ceded.

In May 2017, more than two hundred and fifty Indigenous representatives from all points of the country gathered at Uluru for a process of dialogue and consensus-building, to lay out a roadmap for reform and empowerment. The output was the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

This stirring and eloquent work states, “In 1967 we were counted, in 2017 we seek to be heard” and calls for three outcomes: first, for a First Nations' Voice enshrined in the Australian Constitution; second, a Makarrata Commission to supervise agreement making or treaties (Makarrata is a Yolngu word which describes a process of conflict resolution); and third, a process of truth telling for the nation.

Since the formation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Thomas Mayor, a delegate at the Convention, has travelled the country with the rolled up canvas of the Statement under his arm. He visited numerous communities, and talked with many people about the Statement's vision of a better future for Indigenous Australians.

Finding the Heart of the Nation is the heart-warming story of Mayor's journey, and the often heart-wrenching stories of twenty key people who were involved in the Convention. It aims to show all Australians the importance of the Uluru Statement, and to encourage the growing movement of those wanting to see substantial constitutional change.

This is a visually beautiful hardback book peppered with photographs that complement the people and their stories, including stunning artworks by Shayla Mayor.

FINDING THE HEART OF THE NATION IS AVAILABLE THROUGH HARDIE GRANT PUBLISHING WWW.HARDIEGRANT.COM