Griffith City Council helps mark reconciliation week

Griffith City Council will mark National Reconciliation Week (NRW) by presenting a special film screening on Friday, 31 May.

Reconciliation Week is held 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision.

The theme of the 2019 NRW is Grounded in Truth: Walk Together with Courage.

In line with this theme, Council is hosting a free screening of Occupation: Native, an inspired satire that bites back at Australian history, at the Griffith Regional Theatre on Friday, 31 May at 10am.

Occupation: Native aims to engage all Australians in a national conversation about Australian history and what has been missing from our history books.

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.

Griffith Mayor, Councillor John Dal Broi, is encouraging locals to attend the free screening at the Theatre.

“At the end of the day reconciliation is about relationships and like all effective relationships the one between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the broader Australian community must be grounded in truth. This week provides a good opportunity for us all to have conversations to help strengthen our relationships,” he said.

“Council is also working on developing a Reconciliation Action Plan to build on and strengthen our existing relationship with Griffith’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander population and showcases our dedication and commitment to reconciliation.”

Griffith Aboriginal Medical Service will also be hosting a free community event to mark Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week on Friday, 24 May at Memorial Park starting a 5pm. There will be free entertainment by local artists, traditional dancing and much more.

If you can’t get to a Reconciliation Week event there are other resources that could help raise your awareness and learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements.

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These include:

• www.shareourpride.com.au, a free cultural awareness website which brings together facts and figures, answers to common questions and lots of inspiring stories to help build respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
• Read articles from www.indigenousx.com.au, an Aboriginal owned and operated independent media company. You can also follow @IndigenousX on twitter, where a new Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander host takes over the account each week to tell their story in their own words.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people have also shared their stories and knowledge through Podcasts and TEDx talks and social media platforms, providing plenty of opportunities to grow your understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, rights and experiences.