The 1938 day of mourning was a unique event in Aboriginal history

The 1938 day of mourning was a unique event in Aboriginal history. It

was the first national Aboriginal civil rights gathering and represented the

identifiable beginning of the contemporary Aboriginal political movement. The Day of Mourning 1938 was a precursor for many future events. The AAL was able to persuade many religious denominations to declare the Sunday before Australia Day as 'Aboriginal Sunday'. This was to serve as a reminder of the unjust treatment of Indigenous people. It was said to be a protest of 150 years of callous treatment and the seizure of land. It purposefully coincided with the Australia Day celebrations held by the European population on the same day. The protest became a tradition, and annual Days of Mourning have been held to this day. Every year Australians debate over whether to celebrate Australia Day on January 26. The date marks the anniversary of the First Fleet's arrival in Sydney. But to many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, it represents the beginning of the loss of their land, people and culture. Some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians have mixed feelings about celebrating this day - some consider it a day of mourning. Others use the day to mark the survival of their ongoing traditions and cultures.