April Reconciliation News
It has been heartening to see a continuing media interest in Aboriginal stories and news developments in the past month. The Age ran excerpts of Mark McKenna’s Quarterly Essay about how Australia’s future will be stronger if we can engage in a process of truth-telling about our past. The following week, it ran a double-page spread providing a great introduction to the concept of a Victorian Treaty for those who haven’t previously been engaged.
Sadly, with the good we have also seen the bad. A ‘debate’ on breakfast show Sunrise on the removal of Aboriginal children from their families drew justified criticism for its factual inaccuracies, insensitive tone and lack of an Aboriginal voice on the panel. Today Tonight and The Daily Mail then distorted a story about Queensland nurses acknowledging their white privilege when dealing with Aboriginal patients turning it into a hysterical campaign about political correctness. Luckily, Media Watch picked up the stories and exposed inaccuracies.
In this context it is a perfect time, and always so important to recognise Aboriginal excellence in our communities and there are a number of opportunities to do so.
Nominations for the 2018 Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll are now open, recognising Aboriginal Victorians, past and present, who have made a profound contribution to our state.
The 2018 Ricci Marks Award recognises young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their achievements in training, education, arts, sport, culture and community leadership. Nominations are open until 15 April.
And applications are now open for Reconciliation Australia’s annual Indigenous Governance Awards that recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led organisations that place culture at the heart of their governance.
And of course we have the 2018 HART Awards, recognising initiatives by local government and community organisations in progressing reconciliation.
Read below for more info on each of these awards as well as for info on the numerous events, film-screenings, resources and news stories featured in this eNews.
~ The RecVic team |
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| We have moved into a season of great resource, scented by the flowering manna gum. This is harvest time, with equal days and nights.
This is the time for the First Peoples to host conferences and international trade fairs along the Birrarung. The prized iuk (eel) are fat and travelling en masse down the river to the sea. With many full moons, nights would have been full of celebration and dancing to the sound of possum skin drums. |
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Nominations for the 2018 HART Awards – extended until Friday 6th April.
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| The 5th annual HART Awards (Helping Achieve Reconciliation Together) recognise local governments and community organisations that are advancing reconciliation in Victoria.
If you belong to or know of an organisation that has been involved in an initiative that demonstrates Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people working together, and that has contributed to relationships, respect and understanding, check out our website to find out more about the nomination process.
Download 2018 HART Awards Nomination Pack
The closing date for nominations has been extended until Friday 6th April, 5pm. |
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Another step towards Treaty
In a historic event for Victoria, the first ever piece of treaty legislation in Australia had its second reading in Parliament in late March.
The Advancing the Treaty Process with Aboriginal Victorians Bill 2018 will be the road map to treaty negotiations. The Bill will be debated in Parliament in May 2018.
According to Aboriginal Victoria, the Bill “reflects the shared aspiration of the Government and Aboriginal Victorians to negotiate a treaty or treaties that will help tangibly improve the lives of Aboriginal Victorians, and the lives of future generations [and] reflects the hard work and contributions of over 7000 Aboriginal community members who have been engaged in work to further the treaty process in Victoria”.
For more information, visit Aboriginal Victoria’s website.
Read “Eyes across nation on Victoria as quest begins for Aboriginal treaty” (The Age, 23/03/18) for a good background to the Treaty process. |
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Recommendations for Victorian Aboriginal voice handed to Commission
The Aboriginal Treaty Working Group officially handed over its final report to the Victorian Treaty Advancement Commission on 7 March, delivering key recommendations on the design of the Aboriginal Representative Body.
This historic milestone on the path to treaty was marked with a special event at Parliament House, hosted by Victorian Treaty Advancement Commissioner Jill Gallagher AO. The Aboriginal Treaty Working Group will continue to guide the process towards treaty, working alongside the Victorian Treaty Advancement Commission and the Victorian Government.
View the Final Report on the Design of the Aboriginal Representative Body |
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| National Reconciliation Week 2018 is a key activity in the Reconciliation Movement’s strategy to support Australians in making progress in the reconciliation dimension Historical Acceptance.
This dimension addresses whether all Australians acknowledge the injustices and actions of the past and their impacts (both historical and contemporary) and are making amends for past wrongs.
This year, National Reconciliation Week invites Australians to Learn, Share, Grow – by exploring their past, learning more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and cultures and developing a deeper understanding of our national story.
Find out how you can get involved in #NRW2018. Visit our website |
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| Nominations for the 2018 Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll are now open.
The Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll recognises the achievements of inspirational Aboriginal people who have made an important contribution to their community and the state of Victoria.
Honour Roll Roadshow
The Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll Roadshow 2018 has officially begun, sharing the stories of Aboriginal leaders both past and present across Victoria, while on the look-out for this year’s inductees. The Honour Roll Roadshow will visit Frankston and Heywood to call for nominations and share the inspirational stories of previous Honour Roll Inductees.
More information, and to download a nomination form |
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Budj Bim moves closer to
World Heritage listing
The World Heritage Centre has formally accepted for assessment the nomination for the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape in SouthWest Victoria.
Passing this hurdle means Budj Bim is one step closer to inclusion on the World Heritage List. If successful, it will be the first Australian heritage site to be nominated exclusively for its Aboriginal cultural values.
Read more |
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Reconciliation Writing Competition
Don’t Keep History A Mystery
The Reconciliation Writing Competition 2018, organised by Port Phillip Citizens for Reconciliation, is open to all Victorians to explore ideas about our past and our connection with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture, and to develop a deeper understanding of our national story.
All styles of writing are encouraged including fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Work must be original. Open to all Victorians except PPCFR committee, judges and their families.
Download Flyer for all the details. |
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Support the Uluru Statement
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| At the Uluru First Nations Constitutional Convention, the Uluru Position Working Group was elected to move forward the reforms called for in the Uluru Statement. The Working Group calls on all Australians to take the time to read the Statement, to understand its history, and then walk with them in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.
Sign up and add your voice to those of other Australians who have supported the reforms in the Uluru Statement.
Find out more and sign here |
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Do you know a young
Aboriginal achiever?
The award recognises individual achievements and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in training, education, arts, sport, culture and community leadership. In 2004 the award was named in memory of Ricci Marks, a proud Wotjobaluk man who, in his short life, made an outstanding contribution to his community. The Award is provided by the Victorian Government.
In 2018 two young people will each receive a $5,000 bursary, and a third young person will be recognised with the Ricci Marks Rising Star Award valued at $1,500.
Nominations close midnight 15 April.
More information and to download a nomination form |
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| The national Closing the Gap agenda and the Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Framework are being updated this year.
What should stay the same and what should be different?
Visit here for Information about a forum near you, to make a submission, or complete the survey. |
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New Indigenous recognition committee begins talks
A new joint parliamentary committee investigating recognising Indigenous Australians in the Constitution met for the first time late last month.In a joint statement, the Co-Chairs, Labor Senator Pat Dodson and Liberal MP Julian Leeser, said the committee is looking for ‘common ground’ and a way forward on Indigenous recognition.
“As a committee, we are looking for common ground and ways forward on these critical matters for Australia’s future. We hope to hear from Australians about the next steps for recognition of First Nations peoples,” they said.
“We plan to consult widely, starting with First Nations leadership. We understand that a great deal of work has already been done: the job of this committee is to build on that work and to now take the next steps.” Read more |
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Apply for a 2018 grant
Funding is available to support activities during NAIDOC Week 2018 (8-15 July) that celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, achievements and the continuing contributions to our country and society.
Find out more |
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William Cooper statue unveiled
Hundreds gathered at Shepparton’s Queen’s Gardens for the unveiling of the William Cooper memorial statue on 27 March, including descendants of William Cooper, school students from across the region, community organisations and councillors.Kaiela Institute executive chair Paul Briggs spoke of the importance of the day in Aboriginal history. ‘‘It’s a day of mixed emotions as we’re not only celebrating a great event and a great man, but we’re also remembering the past and our journey,’’ Mr Briggs said. Read more |
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| Are you an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander organisation that puts culture at the heart of your governance? Is your organisation creative and effective? Does it show real leadership? |
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Then show your true colours, and apply for the
Indigenous Governance Awards 2018
The Awards recognise the most innovative and effective Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, projects and initiatives from around the country, and showcase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people determining and driving change. Applications close Saturday, June 30. Apply now |
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| The 2018 ‘Stolenwealth Games’ will be re-invading our shores from 4 -15 April on the Gold Coast.
Each time ‘Australia’ has hosted the games thousands of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islanders as well as other groups have united to resist colonial activity and authority.
A protest camp, established at Broadbeach, will be a central hub throughout the games for demonstrations, public forums and discussions, as well as workshops for cultural sharing and resistance concerts when the sun goes down.
Find out more if you’d like to get behind this Indigenous-led protest. |
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Saturday 7 April
The annual Melbourne Didgeridoo and Cultural Festival is a family friendly, not-for-profit event to explore and celebrate Aboriginal culture and an iconic instrument – the didgeridoo.
The festival showcases the didgeridoo and Aboriginal culture through music, song, dance, art and storytelling. Players and musicians from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities come together to celebrate this unique Australian instrument.
This is a free event, and there will be plenty of activities for the kids and a great variety of food vendors and stalls, including free didgeridoo workshops!
12 noon – 9pm, Duncan Street, Templestowe Lower
More information |
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| Join the Moreland Reconciliation Network for a morning of storytelling and conversation with respected Aboriginal community members living or working in and around the City of Moreland.
Saturday April 21, 10am – 12 noon
Siteworks, Community Room 1, 33 Saxon Street, Brunswick
Please register to attend. Places are limited.
Or search Moreland Yarning Circle on Facebook. |
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The Royal Society of Victoria presents
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| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people developed a number of practical ways to observe the Sun, Moon, stars, and planets to inform navigation, calendars, predict weather, and inform Law and social structure.This talk, Australian Indigenous Astronomy: 65,000 years of Science, Dr Duane Hamacher will explore the many ways in which Indigenous Australians encode scientific information in their traditions and some of the ways in which they pass this knowledge to successive generations.
Friday 20 April
7pm – 8pm, Theatre of All Nations
St Monica’s College, 400 Dalton Road, Epping
Information and ticketing |
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The Friends of Steele Creek
invite you to our community festival for 2018
Sunday 22 April
11am – 3pm, Lower Maribyrnong River Land Park
All welcome!
Information and directions
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Bruce Pascoe, author of Dark Emu
Julia Prendergast, author of The Earth Does Not Get FatMonday 23 April
6.30 – 8pm
Eltham Library, Panther Place, Eltham
All welcome. |
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The festival will be held over two weekends.
Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 April
Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 May
The program will start off this year on Saturday 28 April with a spotlight tour in search of nocturnal wildlife. This will be followed by the opening of the Festival with a celebration of Aboriginal culture on Sunday 29 April at Yarran Dheran Reserve.
The Festival will once again present to you an exciting selection of over twenty expert-lead walks and presentations that will leave you with a greater understanding and appreciation of our beautiful native bushland.
For info and full program |
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Sunday 6 May
5pm, Hamer Hall, St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Archie Roach is thrilled to announce that award winning trio Tiddas will be reforming to join him on a national tour this May and June, to celebrate the release of his recently unearthed album Dancing With My Spirit. It’s been nearly 20 years since the women of Tiddas – Amy Saunders, Lou Bennett and Sally Dastey – have performed on stage together, so the tour will be a very special event.
Tickets and information |
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| The Australian Heritage Festival will focus on what makes a place special, encouraging us all to embrace the future by sharing the strengths of our cultural identities. This year’s theme My Culture, My Story, celebrates the diversity of cultures that have shaped our shared heritage. The Festival is an opportunity to reflect on the places where we live, work, and travel, and why they are special, celebrating our many diverse and distinctive cultures. See full program |
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| Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne Gardens is a significant cultural site for the local Kulin people. Journey into their ancestral lands and explore their rich and thriving culture.
Daily except Saturdays
11am – 12.30pm, Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne, Victoria
Aboriginal Heritage Walks begin at the Visitor Centre, near O-Gate on Birdwood Avenue.
Information Book tickets |
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| The Birrarung Wilam Walk takes you through Federation Square and down to the Birrarung Wilam (Common Ground) Aboriginal art installations, experiencing the Aboriginal history of the Birrarung Marr (Beside the river of mists) and Aboriginal Peoples of the Kulin Nation.
Friday afternoons for the duration of the Festival
20 April, 27 April, 4 May, 11 May, 18 May
3pm – 4pm, Koorie Heritage Trust
Levels 1 & 3 Yarra Building, Federation Square
Cnr Swanston and Flinders Streets, Melbourne
Information Book tickets |
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| Join National Trust members to learn about the amazing cultural journey of a group of local artists, who through photography and Indigenous languages, connect with remnant natural bushland at Endeavour Fern Gully in Red Hill, a National Trust Property.
Artists will discuss their experiences and show some of their brilliant interpretations in a relaxed and informal setting over a picnic basket luncheon in the St George’s Church Hall.
Friday 20 April
11am – 2pm, Arthurs Seat Road, Red Hill
Opposite Red Hill Showgrounds
Information
Pre-booking required: Email gilliantolley@gmail.com Phone 5986 5279 |
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| Come along and enjoy gathering in the ANA hall to hear about the Dja Dja Wurrung who have inhabited this area for over 40,000 years. The talk will conclude with refreshments.
Sunday 20 May, 1.30 – 4pm.
7 High Street, Harcourt, Victoria
ANA Hall situated in centre of town, just two minutes from exit off Calder Freeway
Information |
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Birrarung Wilam (River Walk)
The Birrarung Wilam Walk takes you through Federation Square and down to the Birrarung Wilam (Common Ground) Aboriginal art installations, experiencing the Aboriginal history of the Birrarung Marr (beside the river of mists) and Aboriginal Peoples of the Kulin Nation.
Every Thursday and Friday from 1pm to 2pm
Bookings essential
More information |
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Yingadi Immersion 2018
Yingadi – meaning to come / be invited
You are invited to come, experience the ancient sands at Lake Mungo.
“Black feet, white feet, walking together in harmony with the land. Touching the sacredness of Aboriginal spirituality. Feel the presence of my old people. When you walk with me I feel proud, I feel strong as a Mutthi Mutthi woman”. Vicki Clark.
Monday 13 to Friday 17 August
Leaving from Sandhurst Diocese – Bendigo or Shepparton
Cost: $1200 all inclusive (transport, accommodation, meals)
Expression of Interest and Application:
Karen Mahoney – Yingadi Immersion Coordinator: yingadi@edmundrice.org
8359 0141 / 0439 290 410
Yingadi is offered through the Christian Brothers Oceania Province in partnership with Vicki Clark (Yingadi Inc.) |
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We respectfully acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands and waters of Victoria.
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