National Reconciliation Week Event 2023
Last Sunday, in recognition of National Reconciliation Week, we held a sold-out event at the Jerrabomberra Wetlands to enable the Canberra community to come together to enjoy a cultural tour and bush tucker lunch, and the opportunity to reflect on what reconciliation really means.
Richie Allan, a Ngunnawal Kamilaroi man who is the cultural Director of Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, welcomed us to country before leading a walk around the wetlands to show us all the different plants and animals in ‘nature’s supermarket’ which are used for food, medicine, and indicators of seasonal change. He also taught us about the importance of totems and the deep connection between people and land.
Following the walk, Tanya Keed, a Dunghatti women who has called Canberra home for more than 20 years and who runs Clybucca Dreaming which advocates for social and criminal justice, led us through a yarning circle where open conversation was encouraged with no questions out of bounds. This enabled people to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of reconciliation and walking forward together, our nations true history and the practical actions that each of us can take to improve the plight of many of our first nations people.
We all then came together for a bush tucker lunch which featured Kangaroo, Crocodile, and Barramundi prepared with a range of Australian native herbs and spices, damper and potatoes – all cooked in the fire, accompanied with salads, fruit and finger limes.
Feedback from participants was extremely positive; in particular the blend of the cultural tour and having the opportunity to learn more about country in a practical sense, and also to be given the opportunity to participate in open conversation in a safe and respectful way to better understand how we can participate in reconciliation at a personal level.
Special thanks to Richie and Tanya for your knowledge, guidance, wisdom and awesome chef skills, and to Miriam Fokker from the ACT Parks and Conservation Service and Jeannine Fromholtz from the Molonglo Conservation Group, who were instrumental in assisting with all aspects of the event and for your ongoing support more broadly.
We would also like to thank the ACT Government Community Services Directorate – Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, who provided funding through a Reconciliation Day grant to assist us with delivery of this event.
Banner image: Welcome to Country with Richie Allan, a Ngunnawal/Kamilaroi man. Photo Credit: Lori Gould.
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