About the Sea of Hands
Over 250,000 Australians have signed their names on one of 120,000 plastic hands that make up the Sea of Hands, to show their support for Native Title and Reconcilaiton.
The Sea of Hands was created in 1997 as a powerful, physical representation of the Citizen's Statement on Native Title. The Citizen's Statement was a petition circulated by ANTaR to mobilise non-Indigenous support for native title and reconciliation, at a time when native title rights were under serious threat from the Howard Government's proposed changes to the Native Title Act 1993 (see Background on Native Title). Plastic hands in the colours of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, each one carrying one signature from the Citizen's Statement, were installed in front of Parliament House in Canberra in October 1997, in what was the largest public art installation in Australia.
The Sea of Hands has become a symbol of the People's Movement for reconciliation - and a tangible recognition of the failure of the Howard Government to lead Australia in the reconciliation process.
Wherever possible, the Sea of Hands reproduces designs by a local Indigenous artists.
The Sea of Hands has been installed in every major city and many regional locations throughout Australia, and continues to gather signatures everywhere it appears. Click here for an index of locations where the Sea of Hands has been and to view pictures of Sea of Hands events.
You can place your signature in the Sea of Hands and add your voice to the growing number of Australians calling for justice for Indigenous peoples; for the right to be themselves, to enjoy their cultures, languages, laws and traditions; and to have their rights to land and cultural heritage respected and protected.
Many local organisations and community groups have put on their own small Sea of Hands events (which we call "puddles") usually in conjunction with their local ANTaR group. Check with your local ANTaR group to find out when the next Sea of Hands "puddle" is happening near you. Click here for contact details for your local ANTaR group. Click here to find out how your organisation can hold its own Sea of Hands event.
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