Google was roundly praised yesterday after publishing a ‘Google Doodle’ referencing Australia’s Stolen Generation titled Stolen Dreamtime.
The image was painted by 16 year old high school student Ineka Voigt, who responded to the Doodle 4 Google 2015 competition call-out – asking for submissions based on the theme “If I could travel back in time, I would…” – with “I would reunite mother and child.”
Speaking to The Canberra Times in November of last year,Voigt explained that the artwork was meant as a “message of reconciliation on Australia Day, because it’s important for us to recognise our achievements, but also look at the atrocities.
“I believe that the stolen generation is one of the greatest atrocities in Australia’s history,” she added.
Of their choice to display the image on Australia Day, Leticia Lentini, Brand and Events Marketing Manager at Google Australia explained that as the artwork helps to “bring attention to the critical issue of reconciliation in Australia… we’re proud to have it on our homepage today.”
Many hailed the company on social media for their contribution to acknowledging “the heavy price that the indigenous paid for our privilege” and described the design as “stunning” and “appropriate”.
The first time a Google Doodle has featured such a political message on Australia Day (past years featuring everything from tween family scenes and cliched kangaroos to abstract beach themes), for a foreign corporation to so respectfully acknowledge the struggles of the first Australians on our national holiday – when our government and many of our people can’t bring themselves to – speaks volumes on our nation’s ongoing issues with our troubled past.
However, while the usual chorus of pro Australia Day voices were to be heard denouncing the move, there were some progressive voices who criticised Google. Only displaying the artwork to visitors from Australia, and linking to an explanation of the January 26 celebration as the commemoration of the founding of the first British Australian colony New South Wales – rather than a link to resources explaining why that is so offensive to Aboriginal Australians i.e. celebrating the anniversary of their dispossession – some commenters saw the move as a half-hearted PR move with no real sentiment behind it.
And while it’s hard to imagine such considerations weren’t part of the decision (I’d like to think there were pie-charts representing potential backlash vs support), it’s also hard not to applaud the company for inspiring conversation around the issue.
Meanwhile there has been a petition started calling for the date of Australia Day to be changed to January 1st, the date of Federation. Check that out to lend your support here.
