Aboriginal leaders call for recognition in Australia's constitution
Updated
Aboriginal leaders at a key cultural festival in the Northern Territory have urged the Federal Government to have indigenous people recognised in the constitution.
Sarah Hawke reports from Barunga, nearly 400-kilometres south-east of Darwin.
In 1988 the former Prime-Minister Bob Hawke promised at the Barunga Festival that there would be a treaty between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians within two-years.
20 years on indigenous leaders have told the festival there is still a need for a treaty, but indigenous advocate Pat Dodson adds, the rights of indigenous people needs to be strengthened in the constitution, a position supported by Northern Land Council Chairman Wally Wangamurra.
Mr Dodson says in the 20 years since the promise and the signing of the statement calling for greater respect for Aboriginal identity more could have been done to improve the grassroots issues of poor education, housing and health.
