Seventeen local governments and 125 sponsoring organisations are helping spread the Reconciliation Week message across Western Australia this week.
The Reconciliation Week Street Banner Project is promoting the message of Grounded in Truth, Walk Together with Courage which will be displayed on 417 banners in prominent locations.
This year, the banners feature the eye-catching work of Valmayi Nampitjinpa, an artist based at Tjarlirli Art Centre in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands of the Western Desert, about 350 kilometres north-east of Warburton.
The banners will be displayed at Elizabeth Quay; and the local government areas of Armadale, Bassendean, Broome, Bunbury, Cockburn, Gosnells, Greater Geraldton, Kalamunda, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Mandurah, Perth, Rockingham, South Perth, Subiaco, Swan, Victoria Park and Vincent.
The project is organised by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.
Reconciliation Week runs from today (May 27) to June 3, 2019.
As stated by Local Government Minister David Templeman:
“I’m pleased that the street banners will be flying in the streets of so many local governments around Western Australia.
“They are a very visible sign of the Reconciliation Action Plans that many councils have drawn up to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the traditional owners of the land.
“Local government is the tier of government that is closest to most people, and Reconciliation Week is an important way of getting the reconciliation message to as many people as possible.”
As stated by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt:
“It’s encouraging to see so many local governments and sponsors come on board and support the Street Banner Project.
“Their generosity is greatly appreciated and shows a positive commitment both in the regional and metro communities.
“This year’s Reconciliation Week message is a reminder to all of us that acknowledging the truth of the past is the key to building better relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, now and into the future.
“I encourage everyone to take that message on board and to participate in Reconciliation Week activities.”
