Monday is the seventh Reconciliation Day public holiday to be held in the ACT, and Canberrans are invited to come together for an inclusive community event in Commonwealth Park.

The fun and family-friendly event will run from 10am to 3pm at Stage 88.

Throughout the day, Canberrans will be able to engage in cultural activities and enjoy live entertainment.

Highlights of the 2024 Reconciliation Day program include:

• Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country at 10:00 am
• Activities for kids including ochre face painting, Aboriginal symbol tracing, puzzles, bush tucker games
• Basket weaving, Dreamtime Story art, and boomerang painting
• A full day of entertainment from singers, dancers, and musicians
• A panel discussion with insights from panellists including retired ANU historian Professor Peter Read, author Samantha Faulkner, and Associate Professor Anthony Hopkins.
• Food stalls throughout the day and much more.

Isaac Compton, a First Nations singer and reality TV star, headlines the entertainment program, which also features performances from Wallabindi, a singer-songwriter and winner of MusicACT’s Independent Début in 2023, and Djaarmby Band, an Indigenous rock / folk / pop band.

Free public transport for people attending the event is available on all Transport Canberra regular bus and light rail services. Passengers simply need to tell the bus driver or Customer Service Officer that they are attending the event, if asked.

Additional free shuttle buses will run on a continuous loop from 9am until 4pm between the City Interchange platform 3 and the visitors centre at Regatta Point.

People catching public transport are reminded to plan ahead: a Sunday timetable and light rail frequency is in place for the public holiday.

Rachel Stephen-Smith, ACT Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, encouraged Canberrans of all backgrounds and walks of life to attend and show their support for reconciliation.

“We know Canberrans are leading the nation when it comes to embracing reconciliation and showing support for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community,” she said.

“The ACT is the first and only Australian jurisdiction to have a public holiday for Reconciliation Day, and we once again stood out during last year’s Voice to Parliament Referendum as the only jurisdiction to record a majority ‘yes’ vote.

“This year’s Reconciliation Day event offers another opportunity for us all to come together and reflect on the next stages of our reconciliation journey.

“Activities have been designed to promote conversations about reconciliation and foster a deeper understanding of Australia’s true history, and how we can move forward together.

“They also align with the National Reconciliation Week theme in 2024: ‘Now More than Ever’, which reminds us we must continue to support, nurture and encourage our communities to reach a shared understanding of our history, and strive for a future of equal opportunity.

“I encourage Canberrans to get down to Commonwealth Park to learn more about the oldest living cultures on Earth and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.”

Selina Walker, Co-chair of the ACT Reconciliation Council, said: “Reconciliation is not just a word, it is an action and a human rights movement.

“The Reconciliation Day event provides a relaxed, fun, family-friendly environment to foster positive and respectful conversations towards learning and understanding, which is what true Reconciliation is.”

Richard Baker, the Council’s co-Chair, said: “Reconciliation is about building relationships, respect and trust between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“As the Reconciliation Australia 2024 theme reminds us, it is essential “Now More than Ever” that we as a community build these respectful relationships.

“It is also important “Now more than ever” to remember that the ACT Government’s annual Reconciliation Day event is an important opportunity to bring the ACT community together to celebrate the extraordinary richness of the cultures of First Nation People in Australia.”

For more information about the event and additional Reconciliation Week resources, visit events.canberra.com.au/reconciliation.

For more information about free travel to the event and the public holiday timetable, visit transport.act.gov.au.