A groundbreaking truth-telling project informed by those of the First Nations Regional Dialogues has commenced on Bidjigal Country.
The Towards Truth exhibition, a partnership between the Indigenous Law Centre at UNSW and the Justice and Equity Centre, responds to the call for Truth in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
The first of its kind from the Uluru Dialogue - who represent the cultural authority of the Uluru Statement from the Heart - provides a foundational resource to strengthen local truth-telling initiatives.
Uluru Dialogue co-chair, Professor Megan Davis, said Towards Truth "is Australian history" which provides an apolitical and factual history of the legislation and policy in NSW and how it impacted Aboriginal people.
One of the faces of the Yes campaign during the Voice referendum, Professor Davis said the exhibition is a "more effective way" to show and allow others to comprehend how dispossession is executed, rather than "performative" truth-telling.
"Australian history, NSW history, is important for students and citizens to learn about in formal and informal settings," she said.
"Towards Truth provides that opportunity for Australians to learn about the progression of laws and policies in the state of first contact.
"Institutional truth-telling isn't a prerequisite to learning this history. It's all laid bare in parliamentary and government documents, and people can read it for themselves."
The Exhibition features detailed explanations of legislation and policies which have impacted First Peoples in New South Wales since colonisation, sharing stories of the local people of Georges River and Salt Pan Creek.
Uluru Youth Dialogue co-chair, Bridget Cama, said the exhibition is a "foundational resource to local truth-telling," allowing people to see "plain and simple" facts and come to their own conclusion about the "true history of this nation and the work that needs to be done for a more unified future".
Ms Cama said Towards Truth invites people from the community to participate in truth-telling by "engaging with government laws, policies and decisions and to understand how they have impacted Aboriginal people in NSW".
"We have seen time and time again, various processes of truth-telling led by governments that result in reports and recommendations that just sit on a shelf collecting dust," she said.
"Nothing ever changes or comes from it. We need to do something different.
"Through the Towards Truth project and this Exhibition, we have done just that."
The Towards Truth Exhibition is being held at Hurstville Library, Corner Queens Road & Dora Street, Hurstville, Sydney/Bidjigal until Sunday, June 1st.
