It's been a year since the Voice referendum and many First Nations peoples are still grieving the result. We are not just grieving the message it sent about Australia's relationship with its First Peoples. We are grieving what it means for progress on ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have the same opportunities and outcomes as other Australians.

A constitutionally enshrined Voice was a practical proposal that would have given First Nations people a genuine say in how to fix the structural problems that cause on-going disadvantage. It would have saved lives and prevented more of the same failed programs and interventions.

The No outcome, meanwhile, has failed to make any progress for Indigenous peoples. The latest Closing the Gap report shows the numbers of Indigenous people imprisoned, taking their own lives and losing children to out of home care continue to rise. Gaps in life expectancy and health outcomes remain stark.

During the referendum campaign I saw some of the worst of our country through racism, denial and misinformation. But I also came to appreciate that many people want progress for Indigenous people that give them better health, social and economic outcomes. However, their minds weren't changed by feel-good stories or empathy alone. We may never fully understand the complex reasons that caused the referendum to fail, but in my experience reliable evidence and logical reasoning spoke to many Australians, changing No voters into Yes voters. And one year on from the referendum, changing minds must remain a focus.

To bring about progress for First Nations people, Australians need to understand our history and the issues we still face. They need to understand that these issues are both historic, and on-going. Truth-telling is the best tool we have to create this understanding.

Of course, truth-telling isn't anything new. First Nations peoples have courageously told the truth since 1788 in many ways: from oral history recordings and public artworks, to place re-naming and massacre mapping. But, to fully realise its power, truth-telling cannot simply be truth for truth's sake. The truth must be heard by those who hold power – particularly our Parliaments and government agencies. It must inform decisions and create structural change.

For the past four years, I have been working on Towards Truth, a first of its kind truth-telling project showing how government actions have shaped Aboriginal lives since 1788. From child removals, to housing, to management of Country, decisions made in parliaments have left an indelible mark on Aboriginal people and communities.

Being knocked back is nothing new to First Nations peoples, and this is a key aspect of my own work: highlighting brave stories of Indigenous resilience and resistance, from participating in democracy, to hunting and fishing rights and to obtaining better housing.

For First Nations peoples, this history is not impersonal. Much of the truth I've uncovered wasn't taught to me in school and has helped me to better understand my own family's history. The project is designed to help communities in their own truth-telling processes. The change we need – the change I believe Australians want – is rarely top-down, so our aim is empowering First Nations-led reform.

The Yoorrook Justice Commission in Victoria is a practical example of the power of Indigenous-led truth-telling that is backed by government. The light the Commission shines on the state's history is informing treaty processes to help bring about substantive change.

That we are still here fighting demonstrates our strength in culture, kinship and the belief we can help bring about reform. Discouraged, but not defeated is where many of us find ourselves today, but the shining light of truth has the power to make change and is our best way forward.

Corey Smith is an Ngemba man and Towards Truth Project Manager.