Aunty Matilda House says the only way to stamp out racism is to "face it all together" and spur on a generational change in sport and society.
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It comes in the wake of alleged racial slurs in a junior basketball game in Canberra, with House adamant both teams involved should undergo cultural awareness training.
Because House, one of the ACT's pioneering indigenous campaigners and the first person to perform a "Welcome to Country" ceremony at the opening of Federal Parliament, says those making slurs must be held accountable and those on the receiving end must be taught how to cope.
Basketball ACT is back in discussions with clubs after the Winnunga Warriors, a local Indigenous club, filed a complaint after its players were subject to racial slurs in an under 14s game on July 26.
The association's chief executive David Simpson said he was not in a position to comment with the process still ongoing on Wednesday, with staff working on a joint statement. That been delayed after the clubs had differing views on its wording amid calls to stamp out racism in sport.
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"Where is it coming from? We need people to talk to these clubs, have a meeting with them," House said.
"Have they gone through cultural awareness stuff? Are they talking to the right people? It would be training for both sides, not just one.
"The attackers are going to attack ... they both need to settle down and go through this together. Nobody is going to learn by just doing something for one party and not the other.
"The other party has to know how to treat racism when it's in your face. We never had that when my boys were playing rugby league, or my girls were playing hockey, or when my grandchildren were playing basketball. I've got a grandson who played with Patrick Mills.
"But now, what is this that is creeping back to cause these problems? Is it coming from home? Is it coming from schoolyards? The only way to snap out of it and hit it all the head now, is to face it all together."
Basketball ACT staff and referees were asked to undergo cultural awareness training last August following two separate incidents in competitions.
Richie Allan brought issues to light last year when he said his son was met with laughter when he fronted referees with claims of racial abuse in a Basketball ACT competition.
Allan said his son Richard was called a "dirty Abo" and a "petrol sniffer". The revelations caused Basketball ACT to launch an investigation and ask staff to undergo training to help stamp out on-court issues.
But the latest incident has sparked calls for a response which goes beyond Basketball ACT's own staff.
"It's so sad, because they're missing something in their lives when they can only come back with a racist remark," House said.
"There's a lot to be talked about. I wouldn't stand for anything that causes hurt. With the generational changes our children are growing up with, they should be safe from all of those discriminatory attacks.
"Whether you're black, white, whatever. Of course black lives matter, because these kids have got to grow up and be adults. How are they going to go on with their lives if they're [affected by racism]?"