Sunshine Coast residents are being encouraged to proudly don their First Nations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) attire and show their online support during National Reconciliation Week (NRW) from 27 May to 3 June.
This year’s NRW theme is In This Together, which was developed prior to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but fittingly applies to both.
Sunshine Coast Council Community Portfolio Councillor David Law said Council’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) supported social and economic opportunities for the First Nations community of the Sunshine Coast.
“Due to COVID-19, National Reconciliation Week will look a little different this year, but there’s still a great range of virtual events people can participate in and I encourage everyone to get involved,” Cr Law said.
On Wednesday 27 May at noon, people are being asked to take to social media and acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land with images, video, text or silent reflection.
Council acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Sunshine Coast local government area; the Kabi Kabi peoples and the Jinibara peoples and regularly invites representatives to undertake Welcome To Country ceremonies at council events.
New eye-catching Kabi Kabi public artworks will soon be installed as part of the Bli Bli streetscape project. The artworks have been designed and visioned by traditional Kabi Kabi custodians Lyndon Davis and Brent Miller, who worked with Urban Art Projects to produce the region’s largest First Nations commissioned public art sculpture.
The new work uses 3D digital scanning technology, to re-create a handmade Kabi Kabi shield supplied by the artists.
This Wednesday also celebrates the 53rd anniversary of the 1967 Referendum in which Australians voted overwhelmingly to amend the Constitution to allow the Commonwealth to make laws for Aboriginal people and include them in the census.
On Thursday 28 May at noon, Reconciliation Australia and ABC Australia Facebook pages will live-stream a panel discussion titled 20 years on: Crossing Bridges for Reconciliation, reflecting on the bridge walks of 2000 and the role of reconciliation since that historic moment.
While on Friday 29 May at 9pm, Reconciliation Australia and the ABC will present Busby Marou, Alice Skye and many more in a concert hosted by Christine Anu on her National Evenings Show on ABC Radio.
