Indigenous presenter Narelda Jacobs vows to ‘educate’ Aussies on January 26 – and says she ‘cried with joy’ when Channel 10 sent THIS Australia Day email to staff
Indigenous presenter Narelda Jacobs is urging citizens not to celebrate Australia Day on January 26.
26 January marks the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of British ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales in 1788 and the raising of the flag of Great Britain at Sydney Cove by Governor Arthur Phillip.
For many Indigenous Australians, this day is not a cause for celebration, but rather a reminder of the dispossession of their land, culture and peoples.
Indigenous presenter Narelda Jacobs (pictured) has vowed to “educate” citizens on Australia Day and why it shouldn’t be celebrated on January 26
Narelda, who is of Aboriginal and Irish descent, told The Daily Telegraph on Sunday that many Australians are unaware of the history of colonialism and that she feels it is her responsibility to ‘educate’ the country on why the date is being changed should.
“There is no way we can celebrate January 26 – not now and not in the future, because the effects of colonization have lasted for over 230 years and will continue to do so because they cross generations,” she said.
“The poverty that we have among First Nations people in this country is absolutely staggering, and yet you can go from extreme poverty to billionaire crisis half an hour later. So that’s what January 26 represents to me – it was the beginning of this trauma for our people.” She continued.
Narelda, who is of Aboriginal and Irish descent, told The Daily Telegraph on Sunday that many Australians are unaware of the history of colonialism and that she feels it is her responsibility to ‘educate’ the country on why the date is being changed should
“So we need to open the eyes of the rest of the population and educate them that the date is changing and that it’s not a date to celebrate – then we’ll be a better country.”
The Studio 10 panelist also said she “would have cried tears of joy” after Channel 10 bosses recently sent a now-infamous email to staff saying they could come to work instead of Australia Day 2023 off.
In the memo, Beverley McGarvey, chief content officer of parent company Paramount ANZ, and Jarrod Villani, co-leader, referred to Australia Day only as “May 26.” January”.
The Studio 10 panelist also said she “would have cried tears of joy” after Channel 10 bosses recently sent a now-infamous email to staff saying they could come to work instead of Australia Day 2023 off
The couple told staff it was “not a public holiday” for Indigenous people and said staff could choose to take the day off as a public holiday or work if they preferred.
It comes after Narelda sparked a heated debate on social media after urging the monarchy to apologize for its colonization of First Nations following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Her plea was supported by some progressive Australians, but also by Brits who feel they owe First Nations people no apologies for the actions of their ancestors more than 200 years ago.
Others pointed out that Narelda is of Irish and English descent on her mother’s side, making her “as much British as she is indigenous”.
Narelda’s late father Cedric was an Indigenous man and a member of the Stolen Generations while her mother Margaret, who is white, immigrated to Australia with her family from Northern Ireland.
It comes after Narelda sparked a heated debate on social media after urging the monarchy to apologize for its colonization of First Nations following the death of Queen Elizabeth II