With National Reconciliation Week (27 May to 3 June) just around the corner, now is a great time to explore opportunities for you and your centre to be involved in events nationally and locally. The week commemorates two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum and the High Court Mabo decision, respectively.
This year’s theme is ‘Grounded in Truth, Walk Together with Courage’ (#NRW2019). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have long called for a comprehensive process of truth-telling about Australia’s colonial history. Our nation’s past is reflected in the present and will continue to play out in future unless we heal historical wounds.
Today, 80 per cent of Australians believe it is important to undertake formal truth telling processes. Australians are ready to come to terms with our history as a crucial step towards a unified future, in which we understand, value and respect each other.
Reconciliation Week Lunch and Forum (29 May, 12.30-2.30pm)
The Tenants’ Union, Community Legal Centres NSW, Financial Rights Legal Centre, Redfern Legal Centre, Arts Law Centre of Australia, knowmore and NACLC are jointly conducting a session to mark National Reconciliation Week. The session is open to staff of community legal centres and will be held as part of the May Quarterly event.
The session will follow a special National Reconciliation Week lunch and will include speakers, performers and a short film or two.
For details, contact clcnsw@clcnsw.org.au.
What your centre can do
There are a range of ways you and your centre can get involved in Reconciliation Week. Here are a few ideas.
1. Start a discussion about a Reconciliation Action Plan
Does your centre have a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)? If not, Reconciliation Week is a great time to get the ball rolling with a discussion among staff. There's a special panel discussion at the Quarterly that week, 'Reconciliation Action Plans: Successes and Challenges' (Day 1, Session 2). The panel includes Deborah MacMillan and Bobbi Murray (Central Coast Community Legal Centre), as well as a presenter from Mid North Coast Community Legal Centre and Reconciliation Australia.
2. Screen a film for your staff or local community
SBS, NITV, and Reconciliation Australia have teamed up to make it easier for organisations and groups to screen a documentary from Australia’s leading Indigenous filmmakers with the Reconciliation Film Club. For more information click here.
3. Coordinate a Welcome to Country
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) events provide the ideal opportunity to invite a Traditional Owner to your business or organisation to share their stories and deliver a Welcome to Country. For more information click here.
4. Host a morning tea
Bringing your workplace community together for a morning tea demonstrates that reconciliation is an important priority and will encourage participants to stop, reflect and take notice of its place in their own lives.
5. Promote National Reconciliation Week on social media
Social media is a great way to share your National Reconciliation Week (NRW) experiences and to join in the national conversation about reconciliation between 27 May and 3 June. Start off by following Reconciliation Australia on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
6. Host a Book Club reading
Reconciliation is an important part of our nation’s story and reading books can give privileged access to many different perspectives on this story and fill in historical blind spots. You can consult Reconciliation Australia's book guide for ideas here.
7. Attend a special event in your local area
Find out whether there are any special events for Reconciliation Australia in your local area and see how you can get involved. We've provided some initial suggestions below. For more events visit Reconciliation Australia's event listing here.
Other Reconciliation Week events
Below is a selection of Reconciliation Events taking place across NSW. Let us know of events in your area by emailing us at clcnsw@clcnsw.org.au.
Georges River Council Reconciliation Week 2019
Civic Theatre, MacMahon Street, Hurstville
Council is inviting the community for a launch 'Walking Together' documentary to mark National Reconciliation Week. A powerful documentary about stories of local people which reflects conversations between Aboriginal and non Aboriginal people. It explores a variety of themes from friendship to power of knowledge to inspire change. Details here
Koojay Corroboree
Coogee Beach
The annual Koojay Corroboree is hosted by Randwick Cit Council and the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council on Coogee Beach. (All welcome). The event will feature interactive cultural activities such as boomerang throwing, didgeridoo playing, jewellery making, shell workshops and basket weaving. The lighting of the ceremonial fire will commence at 11am and Storytelling by a community cultural educator will lead into the speeches and dance performances on the beach. Performances are by Doonooch, The Glen Dancers, and junior dancers from Soldiers Settlement, Chifley and Matraville Public Schools. Through Corroboree, Council aims to support NRW by raising awareness and educating the wider community highlighting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural history and achievements Details here
Blak Markets
National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, Waterloo
Explore Indigenous history, food, art and dance at the Blak Markets, hosted for the second time this year by the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) in Redfern. You can pick up handmade jewellery, artworks and homewares, or tuck into lunch while you watch live music and performances from the Redfern Dance Company. Develop new skills at the free weaving workshops, or learn how to whip up a healthy bush tucker storm at Aunty Beryl Van-Oploo’s cooking demonstration.
Reconciliation NSW Namatjira Project Film Screening and Q & A Session
Golden Age Cinema, Surry Hills
Reconciliation NSW invites you to a special screening of the Namatjira Project and Q&A session with Director Sophia Marinos at Golden Age Cinema. Details here
UOW’s Inaugural Reconciliation Guest Lecture: Indigenous Knowledge is not Terra Nullius
Building 67-104, University of Wollongong. Tuesday 29 May, 6pm - 7.30pm
Woolyungah Indigenous Centre, office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Inclusion & Outreach) and the University of Wollongong are proud to announce the UOW’s inaugural Reconciliation Guest Lecture held in National Reconciliation Week.
Indigenous peoples’ knowledge has developed over 60,000 years of connections with land, seas and the environment. Indigenous knowledge is used in many industries including the arts, film tourism, biotechnology, archaeology and design.
As an Indigenous woman, and a Solicitor, guest speaker Terri Janke discusses how Indigenous people are seeking rights to their cultural expression and knowledge so that they can continue their culture and share in the benefits of their cultural legacy.
Terri’s lecture, titled ‘Indigenous Knowledge is not Terra Nullius’, will present a pathway that can assist the interface between Indigenous knowledge and intellectual property to assist innovation in the Australian research landscape.
Youth Off The Streets Reconciliation Week Event
Koch Centre For Youth and Learning, Macquarie Fields
Join Youth Off The Streets staff, young people and community members for our Reconciliation Week activities. We will be holding a smoking ceremony, cultural workshops, guest speakers and a lunch for all attendees. Details here.
31 May: I’m Not Racist But …
Giant Dwarf Theatre, Redfern
Uses humour to open a discussion about racism in Australia through the personal reflections of both emerging and established stand-ups, comedy writers and slam poets. The 2019 line-up includes Luke Carroll, David Woodhead, Steph Tisdell, Dane Simpson and Sukhjit Kahlsa and 2018 Slam Poet Finalists. Prepare to be informed, entertained and challenged. Details here
Reconciliation Week BBQ
University of Wollongong
Join in celebrating National Reconciliation Week 2018 with a BBQ lunch on the duck pond lawn, featuring performances from traditional dancers, local singers and interactive workshops. Details here
Reconciliation Week: Darug Language Workshop
Elizabeth Farm
Learn Darug language and hear local stories from cultural educators in this fun half-day workshop. Enjoy a bush tucker lunch, included with your ticket. This event coincides with Reconciliation Week 2019 and will be led by Darug community members and cultural educators. The workshop will give you deeper insights and immerse you in Darug culture and language as you hear traditional stories from elders and community and learn some simple conversation. Suitable for ages 12 and up. This event is ticketed. Bookings essential via the website. Details here
9 June: Commemoration of Myall Creek Massacre
Myall Creek Memorial
This reconciliation event is held annually one week after National Reconciliation Week because it must be held on the long weekend in June to commemorate the massacre of Aboriginal women, children and old men at Myall Creek on 10 June 1838. Hundreds of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people gather at the Myall Creek Memorial Hall where there will be music and Aboriginal dancers before everyone walks up the hill to the Myall Creek Memorial. Details here