Congratulations to Mary Koolhof OAM
For over 60,000 years the Palawa people practised their sovereignty across this land of lutruwita. All of this changed with the arrival of the white man. The invasion radically changed us in a very short amount of time. Our culture was interrupted; our language, freedoms and country were taken from us, by force. Since British invasion the continuing intolerant, contemptuous views and actions of successive governments rendered us almost voiceless and powerless on our own Country. This meant that Palawa ownership, use and management of lutruwita lands were usurped through violence, ethnic cleansing, and exile. During and after the invasion, the Sovereign entitlements of the Palawa over this country were ignored. During the next 200 years of the occupation of lutruwita, the Palawa have been discriminated against and denied their human rights to exist as a people, to own their own heritage, to live and be treated with dignity in their country.
Transcript of a lecture delivered to the Royal Society of Tasmania, 4 December 2022
Published Papers
The Royal Society of Tasmania acknowledges, with deep respect, the traditional owners of this land, and the ongoing custodianship of the Aboriginal people of Tasmania. The Society pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge that Tasmanian Aboriginal Peoples have survived severe and unjust impacts resulting from invasion and dispossession of their Country. As an institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, the Royal Society of Tasmania recognises Aboriginal cultural knowledge and practices and seeks to respect and honour these traditions and the deep understanding they represent.
On 15 February 2021, the Royal Society of Tasmania offered a formal Apology to the Tasmanian Aboriginal people. Read more
