On Monday, the federal government secured the copyright license for the Aboriginal Flag from designer, Luritja artist and land rights activist Harold Thomas.
Originally designed in 1971, the Aboriginal Flag may now be freely used, but must be treated with dignity and respect – the same protocols which apply to national flag.
“Over the last 50 years we made Harold Thomas’ artwork our own - we marched under the Aboriginal Flag, stood behind it, and flew it high as a point of pride,” said Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt.
“Now that the Commonwealth holds the copyright, it belongs to everyone, and no one can take it away.”
With the Flag freely available for use, the push now turns to getting an official Aboriginal Flag emoji.
In 2015, California-based technology company and emoji-creators Unicode introduced the iOS9 update ‘Flags of the World’. The 208 flags available were from nations with internationally recognised two-letter country codes
Two-years later, Unicode introduced the flags of the United Kingdom: England, Wales and Scotland. Their introduction was prompted by a proposal that acknowledged the flags' official status and international recognition, and also pushed for the inclusion of non-country coded flags.
Now 268 flags are available in emoji form including the Pride Flag and a pirate flag.
Both the Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag meet the criteria for the emoji library, as both were declared as official national flags in 1995 and have international recognition.
Additions to the emoji library are decided through Unicode's Consortium via a proposal process. However, processing time can be lengthy, sometimes taking up to a year.
Now the Australian government holds the copyright, the possibility of an Aboriginal Flag emoji is very real.
Macquarie University’s Professor Bronwyn Carlson said the government needs to be bold to ensure that the Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag become emojis.
"This has been ongoing for a long time, and yet we still haven't been able to do it, so the government needs to throw some weight behind it and stand up. These two flags ought to be represented wherever the other flag is,” she said.
Professor Carlson has researched the way First Nations Peoples identify on social media. She told NITV that in the absence of a flag emoji mob are "innovative" - using Nation names, coloured hearts, or creating an Aboriginal Flag out of keyboard characters.
Bronwyn Carlson Source: Supplied
Professor Carlson said the need for an Aboriginal Flag emoji goes to the heart of Indigenous visibility.
“This country was built on the idea we wouldn't be here. So that flag, we've taken it and made it our own,” she said.
“When it was flown at the Tent Embassy it was a sign that we are here, the embassy was a symbol that reminded Australia that we are sovereign. This is our flag, and it's more powerful than others for that very reason.
“For Indigenous people in 2022 to have that symbol and proudly share they are Indigenous - that is about pride, sovereignty, strength and visibility.”
Kamilaroi woman and teacher, Alexandra Simpson has used several ways to identify online such as making a flag with the symbols [-0-], and naming her mob and the Country where they come from.
Kamilaroi woman Alexandra Simpson Source: Rachael Knowles
She’s not surprised that the Aboriginal Flag isn’t already an emoji.
“268 flags that are emojis and the Aboriginal Flag isn’t one of them, [it] continues to demonstrate the under representation of First Nations People,” she said.
Ms Simpson, like many Aboriginal people, has a strong connection to the flag.
“The flag is something I feel comfortable using to represent me. I have never felt like I am represented with the Australian flag,” she said.
“The Aboriginal Flag represents not only myself but my Country and my people.”
Wiradjuri Ngemba physiotherapist, Jye Murray, otherwise known as the Koori Physio, clearly states he is a proud Wiradjuri Ngemba man on both his professional and personal Instagram accounts.
Jye Murray with friend Kieren Murray at Parliament House Canberra. Source: Jye Murray
“I think it’s pretty crucial for all the [Indigenous] businesses that now operate through Instagram and social media to have the flag on their page. It just shows what we’re fighting for, who we’re representing. It can also get a little unclear when we use other emojis - having our flag there would make everything much stronger,” he said.
With a deep sense of pride in the Aboriginal Flag, Mr Murray says it provides him a reminder of who he is and where he comes from.
“Whenever I think of who I am and what I’m fighting for, the flag is always in the front of my mind,” he said.
“I remember when I graduated year 12, my graduation gift was my own Aboriginal Flag with my name in Wiradjuri on it. I’ve displayed it proudly in every single place I’ve lived since leaving home.
“I’m over the moon the flag is now finally free. It represents my people and it’s something I’ll be fighting for, for the rest of my life.”
With the Australian government securing copyright over the Aboriginal Flag, one can only hope it won't be long until Thomas' iconic design takes its place in emoji's 'Flags of the World'.
