Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (Victoria)

 
Home
More Info
Local Groups
Contact Details

What is ANTaR?

Australians for Native Title & Reconciliation (ANTaR)
began in 1997 in response to a swell of public anger towards Federal Government moves to wind back Indigenous native title rights. In Victoria, more than 30000 people have becoame involved during that period, forming groups in most of the 37 Federal electorates in the State.

ANTaR is a peoples’ movement, committed to the rights and perspectives of Indigenous peoples to determine their own future with the support of the Australian People.

We are committed to Reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians through education and advocacy conducted in parallel with Indigenous organizations.

ANTaR has an integral place in the Reconciliation movement in Australia, providing non-Indigenous Australians the opportunity to share the responsibility of healing in this country.

ANTaR coordinates a major national community education and awareness campaign on native title and reconciliation. This includes:

  • maintaining close liaison with Indigenous leaderships and communities,

  • conducting national campaigns and lobbying on Indigenous affairs issues,

  • conducting education and awareness projects targeted at non-Indigenous Australians and international audiences.

ANTaR Victoria (Inc) focuses on activities and issues specific to Indigenous people in Victoria, while also supporting national campaigns and priorities.

Statement of Purpose

To generate in Australia a moral and legal recognition of and respect for the distinctive status of Indigenous Australians as First Peoples. Recognition of Indigenous Australians’ rights, which include self-determination, their relationships to land and the maintenance and growth of their cultures, is essential to creating a just and fair society for all Australians.

The Sea of Hands

The Sea of Hands is central to ANTaR’s activities.

The Sea of Hands, recognised by hundreds of thousands of Australians as a symbol of the people's movement for rights-based reconciliation, was ANTaR’s first public event, staged to protest against the Federal Government's proposed changes to the Native Title Act when 70,000 plastic hands in six colours, each one carrying one signature from a petition in support of native title and reconciliation, were installed in front of Parliament House in Canberra in October 1997. It was the largest public art installation in Australia. Since then, over 250,000 Australians have signed their names on one of 120,000 plastic hands that make up the Sea of Hands, to show their support for Native Title and Reconciliation.

The six colours of the Sea of Hands represent the colours of the Aboriginal flag (red, black and yellow), the Torres Strait Islander flag (blue, green and white), and the Australian flag. Each Sea of Hands is a unique event, and wherever possible is designed by a local Indigenous artist, using symbols and themes appropriate to the Indigenous traditions of that region.

ANTaR (Victoria)'s activities include:

  • maintaining close liaison with Indigenous leaderships and communities

  • conducting national campaigns and lobbying on Indigenous affairs issues,

  • conducting education and awareness projects targeted at non-Indigenous Australians and International audiences.