A group of Indigenous leaders representing countries across the Commonwealth have issued a joint statement calling on King Charles III to acknowledge and apologise for the genocide and ongoing impacts of colonisation.
Former Olympian and Australian Republic Movement Co-Chair Nova Peris OAM OLY is one of the voices behind the statement, which has been released ahead of the coronation of King Charles, due to take place over the weekend. Senator Lidia Thorpe has also signed the statement.
Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Australia, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, have signed the statement.
They have called for King Charles to formally apologise on the date of his coronation, and there are five specific requests, including that King Charles:
1. start the conversation about slavery’s enduring impact;
2. commit to discussions about reparations and the redistribution of wealth acquired by the Crown back to those from whom it was stolen;
3. commit to the repatriation of all remains that reside in UK museums and institutions;
4. return all cultural artefacts and treasures stolen from the Indigenous populations while under the ‘protection’ of the British Crown; and
5. commit the Royal Family to acknowledge and adopt the renunciation of the “Doctrine of Discovery” made by Pope Francis in April 2023 and start the process of consultation and reparations for First Peoples who suffered under the fulfilment of that doctrine ‘in the name of God.’
Nova Peris, former Olympian and politician, is now Co-Chair of the Australian Republic Movement. She said it was a difficult but important message for King Charles to hear.
“We know this may be a tough conversation for the Royal Family, but change begins with listening. We are asking King Charles III for an apology, reparation and the repatriation of our artifacts and remains,” Peris said.
“King Charles has publicly acknowledged his personal sorrow at the suffering of so many. We are calling on him to also acknowledge the horrific and enduring impacts of the legacy of genocide and colonisation on Indigenous and enslaved peoples.
“We hope this statement and petition begins a process towards justice.”
The group has also launched a petition on Change.org, calling on King Charles to “substantiate the Royal Family’s recent expressions of sorrow and regret about its role in slavery”.
“It’s vital for us to discuss and educate people on the truth behind colonisation. Conversations start with listening,” it says.