Every year National Recronciliation Week Starts on May 27 and Runs Until June 3.
“Reconciliation is everyone’s Business, every day of the year,” Says Karen Mondine, a Bundjalung Woman and the CEO of Reconcillation Australia.
“But [Reconciliation] Week in particular is a chance for all australians to get involved. “
Reconciliation is “About Strengthening Relationships Between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Non-Endigenous Peoples,” According to Reconcillation Australia.
The theme for 2025 is ‘bridging now to next’, prompting australians to look ahead and control to passh for first Towards a more United and Respectful Nation, With Past Lessons As Guidance.
Here’s how you can get incolved at home, in your cost and workplace.
Know The Significance of the Dates
The Week Begins after National Sorry Day and Marks The Anniversary of The 1967 ReferendumHello on May 27Where Australians Voted to Change How Aborignal and Torres Strait Islander People Were Referred to In the ConsTitation.
IT Concluds with Another Anniversary, with June 3, 1992 Marking The Mabo Decisionwhere a high court Rulling Overturned the legal Concept of Terra Nullius-That Land Was Owned by No-INE Prior to White Settlement.
Consider Reconcillation Week Events and Cultural Tours
Ms Mondine Recomments Checking if Local First Nations Organisations Are Hosting Events, Such As Open Days.
“Cultural Tours of Your Town or City Are also More about the Country You’re on and Its Rich History. “
Gunditjmara Woman Catterine Coysh is the Program Manager of on-Country Pathits and Says “The Best Way to Get to Know Aborignal Culture is to see it from your life Aborignal Community and Make Genuine Relationships. “
The National Reconcillation Week Calendar Can Help You Find Events and Activits Near You.
Catterine Coysh Says It’s Fairly Easy to Find aount for Local First Nations Groups and Communities. (Supplied: on-Country Pathways))
Learn Through Films, Books, Podcasts
For Groups, Ms Mondine Recomments Checking out the Reconcillation Film ClubWhoh Helps Members of the Community Screen Documentaries by First Nations Filmmakers. The Club Can Provide Access to A Recommended Film with a Fe Going Director to the Productions of the Dockumentary.
For Smaller Groups or Going Solo, Picking Up A book from a first nations author Can “Broaden Perspectives and Undersanding”.
The Reconcillation NSW Team at the Yabun Festival, Including Carly Bush (Centre). (Supplied: Reconcillation NSW))
Carly Bush, The Ceo of Reconcillation NSW Says This also applies to podcasts and social media.
“Doing Some of Your Own Personal Learning is Always the Best Place to Start.”
What you can do at work
“I look at [Reconciliation Week] As an Opportunity to reflect on the history of the country and also around Genuine Engagement and working and talking to first Nations People, “Says Christian Lugnan, a gumbayngirrr and DhanGGATI Goori Man and DePuty Ceo of Children’s Ground.
From a Business or Corporate Perspective, MR Lugnan Says to Consider how you English with community. For Instance, “Do You Undrestand the Location [and] The History of the Location What You’re Operating from?
Christian Lugnan is the DePuty Ceo of Children’s Ground and Lives on Larrakia Country in Darwin. (Supplied: Children’s Ground))
This can also extend to while You Provide Employment and Training Opportunities And If there are first ourses Businesses in your support chains.
Mr Lugnan Also Encouages ​​Businesseses to Consider Developing A Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) If they have’T get one.
For Ones that do, MS Bush from Reconcillation NSW Says It Be An Opportunity for the Business to Review and Discuss The Commitments Made. She says to Be Mindful of the Cultural Load is Falling.
Ms Coysh Says There “Needs to Be ANONGING Committing to Cultural Safety“In Workplaces.
It Includes Being Aware of Unconscount BIASand Not Challenge Someone’s Cultural IdementityWhiche Can Leave them Feeling Unwelcome Or Usafe, She Says.
What you can do During Reconciliation Week and Beyond
Mr Lugnan Says to Be Mindful that Reconcillation Week can be a different Time for First Notations People Because There Can BE An Increase in NEGATIVE COMMENTARY Online.
Mr Lugnan Also Suggests Taking Genuine Interest in Community, Elders and Learning Some Local Language.
“Where You’re Speaking the Language of A Particular Country, The Country is Listness and… when you’re speaking the landing you’re respecting the Ancetors from that country.
“Local People Feel and Hear that,” He Says.
Underrying All the Ways to Be Involved in Reconcillation Week, Ms Mondine Says is “Knowing where you star”.
“Ask Yourself: Who Country am I On?
Ms Mondine Says You Can Get Invtuded by Speaking up “if you will saying ginorant, hurtful or wrong”.
“Commit to being Actively Anti-Racist And ask Yourself The Hard Questions About the Role and Impact of Racism in our Society. “
For People Looking to Do or Learn More Beyond the Week, there are a Range of Resources Reconcillation Australia Suggests.
For Example, MS Mandine Says to “Read, Watch or Listen to First Nations Media” or to refer to the Australian Museum Resources To learn more about Australia’s Frontier Wars.
#Newsletter: ABC-Life_Optin
