Melbourne captain and football analyst Daisy Pearce has thrown her support behind the AFL's controversial decision to not observe a minute's silence for the Queen during AFLW's Indigenous round.
A minute's silence was held before both AFL men's semi-finals over the weekend, and at the first game of AFLW round three, which was the first week of its Indigenous round.
Asked about her perspective on the decision, Pearce told SEN that "this all comes down to which version of our nation's history you give voice to and bring to the fore".
"For me Indigenous round is a time not just for celebrating colourful jumpers… but for educating ourselves and concerning ourselves with the facts in this country's history that aren't well told, and giving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people a platform to tell their stories," Pearce said.
"What I've learned… is that for First Nations people, colonialism… represents the genocide of their people, the theft of their land, the erasure of their culture and way of life, the loss of their wealth, their basic human rights, and their children."
On the topic of the Stolen Generations, Pearce added that becoming a mother had strengthened her feelings on one of the darkest chapters in Australia's modern history.
"The idea of someone turning up at your door and taking your children, and scattering them around so that they're almost untraceable, I just can't fathom that," she said.
"This isn't ancient barbaric history… this happened in our lifetimes… and the trauma and pain associated with that didn't end with the removal of that legislation. It endures now and it has a very real effect on people and families and identities."
Pearce acknowledged that while many Australians were grieving the Queen's death, it was important that the perspectives of First Nations people were centred.
"Whilst for many Australians and people around the world the Queen represents a long remarkable reign marked by goodwill, grace, leadership, family and service, for a group of very significant Australians, the first owners of this land, it doesn't," she said.
"I understand that the Queen inherited her role at a very young age, and was not directly to blame for all these past atrocities, and that she did an enormous amount of good. But for Indigenous people she leaves a 70-year legacy as a figurehead of colonialism."
She added that choosing not to hold a minute's silence during Indigenous round was an important step in the league's efforts to listen to First Nations people.
"I assume this decision… was a result of listening to those Indigenous voices who suggested it would be insensitive to honour and celebrate the head of state at a time where we as the AFL are outwardly denoting that we as a league are listening to and trying to understand and acknowledge their truth," Pearce said.
Western Bulldogs back AFL's decision
Pearce's comments follow a statement released by the Western Bulldogs after the club participated in a Friday night fixture against Fremantle, where a minute's silence took place immediately after an Acknowledgement to Country ceremony.
The club welcomed the AFL's decision to withhold a minute's silence for the remainder of the AFLW's Indigenous round.
"The Western Bulldogs acknowledges the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and the way this has been attributed around the world, including in Australia, as the country's Head of State," the statement read.
"The club also recognises the significant and ongoing feelings of hurt within Indigenous communities that stems from colonisation and what the monarchy represents since that time.
"The club believes the decision to hold a minute's silence directly following the Acknowledgement of Country was insensitive.
"It heightened the feelings of hurt and unease among Indigenous communities, as well as among the players and spectators present and viewing the match."
Board member and Wotjobaluk and Dja Dja Wurrung woman Belinda Duarte also told Nine newspapers that the mandated minute's silence had "unearthed deep wounds" for First Nations people.
AFLW's Indigenous round is split over two rounds, and continues this weekend.
