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| Invasion Day | |
|---|---|
| Name | Invasion Day |
| Type | Historical observance |
| Date | Varies by country |
| Observedby | Indigenous peoples, activists, historians, politicians |
| Significance | Commemoration of colonial contact, conquest, or annexation |
Invasion Day is a contested commemorative designation applied to dates marking colonial landings, annexations, or declarations of sovereignty in settler states, notably in nations with histories of European expansion such as Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, Canada, the United States, South Africa, and various Pacific and Caribbean territories. The term is used by Indigenous activists, historians, political organizations, and cultural figures to reframe public memory from celebratory narratives to accounts emphasizing dispossession, resistance, and survival. Debates around the term intersect with parliamentary motions, judicial decisions, protest movements, and artistic expression.
The phrase "Invasion Day" derives from historical vocabularies of conquest found in texts about the Age of Discovery, British Empire, Spanish Empire, and Dutch Empire, while activists drew upon terminology used in postcolonial theory by scholars linked to Frantz Fanon, Edward Said, and Gayatri Spivak. Usage increased in the late 20th and early 21st centuries through campaigns by organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and regional groups like the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, the Australian Aboriginal Progressive Association, and the Māori Party. Media coverage by outlets including the BBC, The Guardian, The New York Times, and the Sydney Morning Herald helped normalize the label in public discourse, alongside commentary from politicians in parties such as the Australian Labor Party, the Liberal Party of Australia, the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, and the New Democratic Party (Canada).
Dates associated with Invasion Day refer to specific events: landings by explorers like James Cook, Christopher Columbus, Hernán Cortés, and Abel Tasman; colonial proclamations such as the Letters Patent 1787 and the Treaty of Waitangi; territorial transfers like the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the Sykes–Picot Agreement; and armed conflicts including the Frontier Wars, the Eighty Years' War, and the Anglo-Zulu War. Historians drawing on archives from institutions such as the British Museum, the National Archives (United Kingdom), the Library of Congress, and Museo Nacional de Antropología (Mexico) have emphasized the roles of disease pandemics, economic extraction via trading companies like the Hudson's Bay Company and the East India Company, and military campaigns led by commanders such as Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, Francisco Pizarro, and Hernán Cortés in producing settler states. Indigenous responses are documented in sources connected to movements like the American Indian Movement, the Indigenous Peoples' Movement, and local resistance leaders including Tupac Amaru II, Pemulwuy, and Te Kooti.
Observances labeled Invasion Day commonly take the form of marches, vigils, cultural performances, and teach-ins organized by coalitions including Sovereign Union of First Nations, Land Back, First Nations National Constitutional Convention, and local Indigenous councils. High-profile protests have coincided with public holidays such as Australia Day, Columbus Day, Canada Day, and King Philip's War anniversaries in commemorative contexts, prompting participation from artists and activists like Yothu Yindi, Björk, Noel Pearson, Marcia Langton, and Taika Waititi. Events often involve partnerships with museums and universities—such as the National Museum of Australia, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Harvard University, and University of Cape Town—and draw coverage from broadcasters including ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), CBC, and Al Jazeera. Law enforcement responses have referenced directives from agencies like the New South Wales Police Force, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation during large-scale demonstrations.
Parliamentary debates have arisen in legislatures such as the Parliament of Australia, the New Zealand Parliament, the Canadian House of Commons, and the United States Congress, with motions introduced by figures from parties including the Australian Greens, the Labour Party (UK), and the Green Party of Canada. Legal challenges surrounding commemorative dates have cited constitutional instruments like the Constitution of Australia, the Constitution Act, 1867, and international treaties including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and conventions of the International Labour Organization (notably ILO Convention 169). Courts including the High Court of Australia, the Supreme Court of Canada, and the United States Supreme Court have issued rulings affecting Indigenous land rights and symbolic recognition, referencing precedents like Mabo v Queensland (No 2), Delgamuukw v British Columbia, and Johnson v. M'Intosh.
Artists, filmmakers, and writers have engaged with Invasion Day themes in works showcased at festivals and institutions such as the Venice Biennale, the Sundance Film Festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and galleries like the National Gallery of Victoria. Notable creative responses include films by directors Gelila Bekele, Warwick Thornton, and Taika Waititi; books by authors Bruce Pascoe, Chinua Achebe, Annie Proulx, and Kim Scott; and music by performers linked to labels and collectives such as Modular Recordings and Sub Pop. Documentaries broadcast on channels like SBS (Special Broadcasting Service) and PBS have foregrounded Indigenous testimony alongside archival material from repositories such as the British Library and the National Film and Sound Archive.
The term provokes polarized reactions from civic groups, political parties, and commentators across outlets including The Australian, Fox News, Sky News, and Le Monde. Critics argue that reframing public holidays undermines national cohesion and cite economic concerns raised by business groups such as the Business Council of Australia and cultural institutions like the Australian War Memorial. Advocates counter with appeals to reparative justice, treaty-making efforts exemplified by the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and symbolic acts such as place-name restorations seen in cases involving Aoraki / Mount Cook and Denali. Ongoing debates engage historians from universities like Oxford University, University of Sydney, and University of Toronto and legal scholars contributing to policy forums convened by bodies such as the Lowy Institute and the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada.
Category:Public holidays Category:Indigenous rights