Today is Australian South Sea Islanders National Recognition Day

Today marks 26 years ago the Commonwealth Government formally recognised Australian South Seas Islanders as a distinct cultural group.

It recalls some 60,000 who were black birded while some 15,000 who lost their lives in the process.

On the 25th August 1994, the Commonwealth recognized Australian South Sea Islanders as a distinct cultural group.

More than 60,000 men, women and children were brought to Queensland 150 years ago, building the sugarcane industry and others.

Their sacrifice will not be forgotten

Today is Aust South Sea Islander Recognition Day and also my grandfather Joe Leo’s birthday – who was instrumental in the recognition process. Here he is speaking about what it means at its heart: knowing who you and your ancestors are. Clip shared from cuz Joella Warkill’s page pic.twitter.com/8omTMnTcge
— Amy McQuire (@amymcquire) August 25, 2020

Today we mark Australian South Sea Islanders Recognition Day by flying the ASSI Flag alongside the Australian, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander flags.

Matteo from Year 11 also read his essay on Faith Bandler AO and her struggle for ASSI rights during the ceremony pic.twitter.com/MfglZKLRGo
— CBHS Lewisham (@cbhslewo) August 25, 2020

@NACCHOChair Today marks 26 yrs since our South Sea Islanders were officially recognised as their own distinct cultural group. This recognition acknowledges their descendants, the injustices and discrimination the community has suffered for over a century. https://t.co/ykAd38aAGl
— Chair NACCHO Donnella Mills (@NACCHOChair) August 25, 2020

Today's flag raising event commemorates the South Sea Islanders contribution to the economic, cultural and political development of our nation, and acknowledges the dark history of the Blackbirding trade: https://t.co/pRtcYmU6CE https://t.co/kWCxOpdINj
— Australian National Maritime Museum (@seamuseum_) August 25, 2020

https://twitter.com/MelissaMaykin/status/1298122370159280128

https://twitter.com/AusHCVanuatu/status/1298169202163867648

I am South Sea. Today marks 26yrs since Australian South Sea Islanders were officially recognised as our own distinct cultural group. South Sea Islander people were enslaved, kidnapped and brought to Aus from different islands in the Pacific Ocean to work on plantations in Qld. pic.twitter.com/JPNrB7N82H
— Kevin Yow Yeh (@kevinyowyeh) August 24, 2020