NRW - Let's Talk, Share and Understand

‘Almost all Australians (89%) believe the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians is important.’

(Australian Reconciliation Barometer, 2016)

Reconciliation Australia is an organisation that was established to bring awareness and recognition for the indigenous culture as well as share, teach and heal as a community. National Reconciliation Week (NRW) was created so Australian and Indigenous Australians can connect, understand, and recognise our shared history in hopes of bringing us all together as one Country.

“A united Australia which respects this land of ours; values the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage; and provides justice and equity for all.” (P. Dodson, 1991)

In 1991, a group of people, devised a plan to educate all Australians on Indigenous issues and achieve equality for everyone, they were known as the Council of Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR). This occurred after receiving the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. CAR’s goal was to unite and reconcile all Australians and give Indigenous Australians the acknowledgment for culture and traditions, equality to all people and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’s way of life.

‘The Council's overall task is to promote a process of reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider Australian community. This process is based on an appreciation of indigenous cultures and achievements and of the unique position of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the indigenous peoples of Australia. The means employed in the process include the fostering of an ongoing national commitment to cooperate to address Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage.'

(The Council for Reconciliation – Strategic Plan, 2001.)

Under the guidance of the Council and with the support of Non-indigenous Australians, a week of prayers was organised in 1993. Three years later, began National Reconciliation Week which is a week of recognition towards Australia’s shared history and celebration of an incredible culture, throughout all of Australia. In 2000, the Council for Reconciliation organised 300,000 people to walk across Sydney harbour Bridge in recognition of National Reconciliation Week. In 2001, Reconciliation Australia was established by CAR to innovate for reconciliation across the nation.

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time to reflect on two incredible milestones that us, Indigenous mob, have fought for and succeeded. It is a sign of hope and triumph that we can overcome the racial discrimination, abuse, and inequality we have faced for too many generations. The milestone's Reconciliation Week chose to celebrate over their anniversary were:

‘The 19967 Referendum’, were an astonishing 90.77% of Australians voted YES to making changes to the Constitution in support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.

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‘The High Court Mabo Decision’ landmarked the recognition for the Native Title Act in Australia and aided in the doctrine of terra nullius being declared fiction.

This is the first ever recorded meeting of reconciliation between Aboriginals of Australia and the colonisers;

‘It is the middle of winter 1770, and Captain James Cook anchors his ship in a bay near present-day Cooktown. He and his crew are hungry.

They gather about a dozen sea turtles from the waters, but there was a problem. The local Guugu Yimithirr people objected and tried to explain – in their language – that Cook was not allowed to take the turtles.

The dispute intensified, and the Guugu Yimithirr smoked Cook and his crew to cleanse their land, while Cook's party fired warning shots, injuring a man.

Later, an Elder approached Cook, offering him a broken spear as a gesture to resolve the issue. The two parties met at a rock formation nearby on 19 July 1770 to reconcile their differences.

Both the Guugu Yimithirr people and Cook's party recorded this meeting in their histories. This allowed it to survive, and the National Trust of Australia nominated it in November 2019 as Australia's first documented act of reconciliation and to add it to Australia’s National Heritage List, where it would join places such as the Sydney Opera House.’

(National Trust, 2019)

National Reconciliation Week has been celebrated for 20 years and this year it has been themed ‘More than a Word, Reconciliation Takes Action’.

The 5 Dimensions of Reconciliation are:

1. Race Relations – ‘All Australians understand and value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous cultures, rights and experiences, which results in stronger relationships based on trust and respect and that are free of racism’.

(Reconciliation Australia, 2020.)

2. Equality & Equity – ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples participate equally in a range of life opportunities and the unique rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are recognised and upheld.’ (Reconciliation Australia, 2020.)

3. Institutional Integrity – ‘The active support of reconciliation by the nation’s political, business and community structures.’ (Reconciliation Australia, 2020.)

4. Unity – ‘An Australian society that values and recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. (Reconciliation Australia, 2020.)

5. Islander cultures and heritage as a proud part of a shared national identity.’

(Reconciliation Australia, 2020.)

6. Historical Acceptance – ‘All Australians understand and accept the wrongs of the past and their impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Australia makes amends for past policies and practices ensures these wrongs are never repeated.’

(Reconciliation Australia, 2020.)

Reconciliation Australia’s action towards change, healing, and recognition of the above dimensions over the past 20 years:

• · Appointment of Council's first Aboriginal Liaison Officer - 1997.

• · Many companies and government departments have introduced Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs, see below).

• · Development and implementation of NAIDOC Week Planning Committee activities since 1998.

• · The official saying of Sorry by the Council to the Aboriginal Community 22 June 1999.

• · The carrying of the Olympic Torch by Aboriginal Elder and Boxer, William Morris 2000.

• · Apology to the Stolen Generations in 2008.

• · Roads and Traffic Authority Learner Program for Aboriginal drivers.

• · Deadly Awards (Sydney).

• · NAIDOC celebrations.

• · Campaign for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal Australians (started in 2012).

• · The Australian Capital Territory changed its Family & Community Day to become a Reconciliation Day public holiday in 2018.

Early statistics were given that 89% of Australians believe it is important to have a relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. I would like you to glance at the below statistics and consider if we are doing all we can for Reconciliation and making Australia one Country.

• · Many Australians (66%) agree that cultural diversity makes us stronger.

• · The level of contact and interaction between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians is low. Only 32% of the general community socialise with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

• · Trust between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians is low. Only 24% of the general population believe trust towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is high.

• • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people still experience high levels of racial prejudice and discrimination, 37% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people had experienced verbal racial abuse in the six months before the 2016 Australian Reconciliation Barometer.

(Australian Reconciliation Barometer, 2016)

Let us hope the statistics have changed since 2016. Let us hope we are spending more time with Indigenous mob, Australian mob and all the different mobs that have come here to make our great Country their home. Let us hope we are trying to show respect, be understanding and give kindness to all people so that we can become one community: learning, sharing, and growing together. All our knowledge combined can only make this Country improve and flourish into something more humble, open, and sacred.