ABC News (Australia) published this video item, entitled “Reconciliation Day: Canberra elders concerned about Indigenous incarceration rates | ABC News” – below is their description.
‘More than a word: Reconciliation takes action’ is the theme behind this year’s ACT Reconciliation Day public holiday.
But some elders in the capital’s Indigenous community argue there’s still too much talk and not enough progress when it comes to closing the gap.
And while the ACT government insists steps are being taken to examine the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the criminal justice system, it’s not yet clear if they’ll go as far as some elders say is necessary.
ABC News (Australia) YouTube Channel
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In This Story: Torres Strait Islander
Torres Strait Islanders are the Indigenous peoples of the Torres Strait Islands, which are part of the state of Queensland, Australia. Ethnically distinct from the Aboriginal people of the rest of Australia, they are often grouped with them as Indigenous Australians. Today there are many more Torres Strait Islander people living in mainland Australia (nearly 28,000) than on the Islands (about 4,500).
There are five distinct peoples within broader designation of Torres Strait Islander people, based partly on geographical and cultural divisions. There are two main Indigenous language groups, Kalaw Lagaw Ya and Meriam Mir, and Torres Strait Creole is also widely spoken, as a language of trade and commerce. The core of Island culture is Papuo-Austronesian, and the people traditionally a seafaring nation. There is a strong artistic culture, particularly in sculpture, printmaking and mask-making.