SYDNEY ¨C Australian Indigenous leaders called for a week of silence and reflection after a referendum to recognize the First Peoples in the Constitution was decisively rejected by a majority of the population.

More than 60% of Australians voted ¡°No¡± in the landmark referendum on Saturday, the first in almost a quarter of a century, that asked whether to alter the Constitution to recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people through the creation of an Indigenous advisory body, the ¡°Voice to Parliament.¡±

The outcome is seen as a setback for reconciliation efforts with the country¡¯s Indigenous community, and also for Australia¡¯s image in the world regarding how it treats First Nations people.

Unlike other nations with similar histories like Canada and New Zealand, Australia has not yet formally recognized or reached a treaty with its First Peoples.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people make up 3.8% of the 26 million population and have inhabited Australia for about 60,000 years but are not mentioned in the Constitution and by most socio-economic measures are the most disadvantaged people in the country.

¡°This is a bitter irony. That people who have only been on this continent for 235 years would refuse to recognize those whose home this land has been for 60,000 and more years is beyond reason,¡± the leaders said in a statement that was released on social media platforms.

The leaders said the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flag would be lowered to half-mast for the week to acknowledge the referendum result.

¡°The referendum was a chance for newcomers to show a long-refused grace and gratitude and to acknowledge the brutal dispossession of our people underwrote their every advantage in this country,¡± the statement said.

Australian Indigenous leader and former national rugby union player Lloyd Walker said the path to reconciliation seems difficult now, but the community needs to keep fighting.

¡°We can say it got out-voted but there was still 40% of the people that wanted it. Years and years ago we wouldn¡¯t have that percentage for sure,¡± said Walker.

Jade Ritchie, a ¡°Yes¡± campaigner, said after the results on Saturday night that the whole nation should be grieving the lost opportunity.

¡°We had an opportunity to make real change,¡± she said.

¡°These gaps, this disadvantage, this disenfranchisement of a whole portion of our community... we talk about this stuff all the time and government after government try to address these issues and here we are with a very moderate and fair proposal and a practical way forward, and it¡¯s not been accepted.¡±