The Sea of Hands

“ANTaR and the Sea of Hands are fundamental to the achievement of justice and Reconciliation in this country” - Patrick Dodson 

 

The Sea of Hands is central to ANTaR’s activities.  

On the 12th of October 1997, the Sea of Hands paved its way into Australian history books as 70,000 members of culturally diverse communities protested outside Parliament House in Canberra. The Sea of Hands was a protest in opposition to the Howard Government’s proposed amendments to the Native Title Act of 1993.

The Sea of Hands is a prominent Australian symbol of Indigenous rights to land, the on-going process of Reconciliation, and the desire for greater mutual understanding and respect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. Each one of these hands symbolise the Australian people’s rights-based movement towards Reconciliation.

Today, almost 300,000 Australians have put their signatures on a hand in the Sea of Hands and helped in its installation in every major city around Australia, as well as many localities throughout Victoria.  The Sea of Hands is Australia's largest public art installation. as these installations colourfully represent these near 300,000 Australians who have shown their support for native title and reconciliation.

The six colours of the Sea of Hands represent the colours of the Aboriginal flag (red, black and yellow), the Torres Strait Islander flag (blue, green and white), and the Australian flag. Each Sea of Hands installation is a unique event, and wherever possible, is designed by a local Indigenous artist, using symbols and themes appropriate to the Indigenous traditions of that region.

 

Visit the ANTaR National site to see further information on the Sea of Hands including:

  • History of the Sea of Hands
  • Photos of Installations
  • Adding your name the Sea of Hands

 

Sea of Hands in Victoria

There have been a number of Sea of Hands installations across metropolitan and regional Victoria.

The Sea of Hands is commonly used during Sorry Day, Reconciliation week and NAIDOC celebrations as a colourful reminder of the commitment of the Australian people to genuine reconciliation and as a gesture of respect for Aboriginal culture and tradition.

 

 

Hold your own Sea of Hands event

The Sea of Hands is a locally focused reconciliation activity. Many local reconciliation groups and other community groups, such as churches, schools, universities, local events committees, etc, have staged small Sea of Hands events (which we call "puddles") of various sizes. This may involve anything from a few hundred to many thousands of hands.

 

We can assist you in staging your own event by:

  • Preparing the right quantity and colours of hands for pickup from our office in Fitzroy
  • Giving you directions about planting and managing the hands
  • There will probably be a local reconciliation group that could assist or be involved in the event. Click here to find the local reconciliation group in your area.

Be creative – involve other people, especially children, to get imaginative about a planting and think about what reconciliation means and how it can be achieved.

 

If you are interested in staging your own Sea of Hands event, please contact us.