Invasion Day

[in-vay-zhuhn day]

noun

1. Australian.,  January 26, the anniversary of the arrival of the British in Australia and the founding of the first British settlement. Observed in opposition to Australia Day and intended to emphasize the effects of colonization on the Aboriginal peoples of Australia.

Example Sentences

Formally Australia Day but also known as Invasion Day or Survival Day, the date marks the violent arrival of British settlers to the continent in 1788, and it has a long history as a political flashpoint for Indigenous affairs.

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“Yes, Invasion Day is the reason why we’re all here today, but we must go beyond that,” said Mililma May, who runs the group, a nonprofit called Uprising of the People.

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But as more people and businesses quietly opt out, and annual "Invasion Day" protests gather steam, some experts say it's unclear if revamping Australia Day will help future-proof it.

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For many Indigenous activists, Australia Day is known as “Invasion Day” as it marked the beginning of a sustained period of discrimination and dispossession of Indigenous peoples without the negotiation of a treaty.

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"Invasion Day" protests have grown in recent years and many people boycott the holiday.

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