January 26th
January 26th
January 26 commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet. Specifically, it was the day commander Captain Arthur Phillip, rowed ashore at Sydney Cove, raised the Union Jack and proclaimed British sovereignty over part of the continent in 1788.
For some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the 26th of January represents the lived experiences of oppression and dispossession which began on the 26th of January. It represents the beginning of colonisation and a history of suffering, racism, death, the Stolen Generations, and more.
The NRL acknowledges that today represents a painful and sorrowful day for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Today, we pay tribute to the resilience and the enormous contribution our Aboriginal and Torres Strait brothers and sisters make to our nation and the greatest game for all.
Resources
To find out more information about January 26th please click here.
National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
