Uluru Dialogue collaborates with SBS radio to translate Uluru Statement from the Heart

The Uluru Dialogue at the UNSW Indigenous Law Centre has collaborated with SBS Radio to translate the Uluru Statement from the Heart into more than 60 languages, offering “an intimate opportunity for multicultural communities to engage with the Uluru Statement, and First Nations people’s call for Voice, Treaty and Truth.”

The Uluru Statement outlines “a roadmap for substantive constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” and the translation may support educators from a variety of cultural and linguistic backgrounds to access the Statement in a more meaningful way, as well as supporting parents from a variety of backgrounds to engage in dialogue with early childhood education and care (ECEC) services about the value of including First Nations perspectives in the curriculum.  

Its proposal includes three sequenced reforms: first, a Voice to Parliament enshrined in the constitution, then establishing a Makarrata Commission to supervise agreement-making (Treaty) and truth telling.  

The statement, and the three reform proposals, followed thirteen deliberative First Nations Regional Dialogues which culminated at the Uluru National Constitutional Convention in 2017. 

At Uluru, the statement was signed and adopted by 250 First Nations delegates. 

“The Uluru Statement is an invitation to all Australians, to walk with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples towards a better future,” Megan Davis, UNSW Professor of Law and Balnaves Chair of Constitutional Law, said.  

“For many Australian people, English is not their first language. These translations offer a powerful way for the whole Australian community to engage, read and understand what First Nations delegates called for in 2017 at Uluru.” 

The Uluru Statement was strategically written to the Australian people, and the translations, falling as they do during NAIDOC week, offer “a tremendous opportunity” to extend this invitation to an audience that will now be able to read this seminal statement in their first language.  

“The relationship between Indigenous Australia and multicultural Australia is an important one and we hope this work is received as a demonstration of how important we view this relationship,” Dr Davis said. 

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples understand the power and importance of language to culture and to witness the statement take shape in over 60 different languages is truly inspiring,” she added.   

The translations may be viewed here. To listen to SBS Radio broadcasters read the Statement in their language, please see here. The music in the podcasts is by Frank Yamma, and photo by Jimmy Widders Hunt.