Constitutional recognition of Australia's First Nations people is "not a project of identity politics" but one of "justice, unity and inclusion", Noel Pearson has declared.
The Indigenous leader, from the Guugu Yimidhirr community of Hope Vale on the Cape York Peninsula, also said "racism will diminish" if the upcoming national poll to enshrine a First Nations voice to Parliament in the Constitution results in a 'yes' vote.
Mr Pearson — who is also a lawyer, academic and land rights activist — made the comments on Thursday during the Boyer Lecture broadcast by the ABC.
The lectures are a series of speeches from a recognised Australian invited to share insights on ideas, observations and experiences. They are named after former ABC chairman Sir Richard Boyer.
Mr Pearson said he was "excited but anxious" about the referendum and that "thunderstorms of strife and discord" threatened the cause.
"Australia doesn't make sense without recognition," Mr Pearson told the lecture.
"Until the First Peoples are afforded our rightful place, we are a nation missing its most vital heart."
Mr Pearson said the forthcoming referendum is Australia's "greatest bridge" that will celebrate the rightful place of Indigenous heritage in Australia's identity.
He said it would close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians by granting First Nations people a fairer say on policy that affects them.
Mr Pearson said it was the responsibility of every Australian to decide on constitutional recognition of First Nations people.
But he said if the outcome was "predicated on our popularity as a people, then it is doubtful we will succeed".
"It does not, and will not, take much to mobilise antipathy against Aboriginal people and to conjure the worst imaginings about us and the recognition we seek," he said.
"For those who wish to oppose our recognition it will be like shooting fish in a barrel.
"An inane thing to do — but easy. A heartless thing to do — but easy."
What's the latest on the Voice?
A Constitutionally-enshrined Indigenous Voice to Parliament is the key plank from the Uluru Statement, agreed to by First Nations leaders after a historic conference in 2017.
It lays out a roadmap with three objectives: a Voice to Parliament, Treaty, and Truth, in that order.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in September the referendum on the Voice would be held between July 2023 and July 2024.
There's been months of discussion around how the vote will be funded, but Tuesday's budget confirmed the federal government would spend $75 million on preparations.
A big chunk of that is for the Australian Electoral Commission to ramp up enrolment rates for First Nations people.
But Murrawarri man Fred Hooper, chair of the Murrawarri People's Council, told the ABC on Thursday constitutional reform was a distraction from the importance of achieving a reckoning through Treaty.
A treaty is an agreement that includes promises and obligations between two sovereign states.
A Treaty would impose sanctions for breaches and would recognise Indigenous Australians as sovereign, which some First Nations leaders argue will result in greater self-government rights.
"The $75 million [funding] should be put towards truth-telling, not a Voice, and not to get people to recognise us in a constitution that takes away our sovereignty and that takes away our freedoms as Nations and freedoms of self-determination," Mr Hooper said.
Regarding any government-funded referendum campaigns, Mr Hooper said he wanted to see investment in both sides.
"There should be equal amounts of money put to a 'no' campaign as well as a 'yes' campaign. Or that money could be spent on better things other than trying to promote the voice.
"Governments have failed us in the past and I believe through a Voice they will fail us again."
