National Reconciliation Week

Next week is National Reconciliation Week. Celebrated annually between 27^th May and 3^rd June, these dates are both significant anniversaries for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 27^th May 1967 marked the passing of the referendum that gave the right for our First Nations peoples to be counted as part of the census. This is particularly poignant as we move towards another possible landmark referendum – Voice to Parliament - at the end of this year. On 3^rd June 1992 the High Court of Australia ruled in favour of the Mer people in the Mabo vs Queensland court case, paving the way for Native Title.

This year at the Senior School we are celebrating National Reconciliation Week with a full calendar of events. During lunchtimes in Week 5 students will have the chance to hear the story of Stolen Generations survivor Alex Houthuysen (Hill), learn about Aboriginal art symbols with our Indigenous College students, as well as cook damper and fish with local Kaurna/Peramangk Elder Uncle Ivan Tiwu Copley. We will also be reprising the very popular Aboriginal flag donut fundraiser (with Torres Strait Islander colours also on sale this year) for $2.50 each, in aid of Aboriginal Catholic Ministry. These will also be on sale on Saturday 3rd June when we will begin the First XIII football match with a Welcome to Country/Smoking Ceremony on the Bourke Oval. Students will also have the chance to engage during Mentor Time with Faith and Service sessions run by past Ikara and Jarrumwani Immersion students.

Reconciliation is a journey for all of us to embark on and embrace the mending of relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, through truth-telling about our history and celebration of the oldest continuous living culture on Earth.

Victoria Coxhill
Aboriginal Education Coordinator