A free community event will be held at the National Arboretum on Monday to mark the sixth Reconciliation Day public holiday.
The fun, family-friendly event will run from 10am to 3pm. A traditional smoking ceremony will be followed by a day of cultural activities and live entertainment reflecting the National Reconciliation week 2023 theme: Be a Voice for Generations.
“As a nation, we have an important decision to make regarding the proposed constitutional change to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and embed a Voice to Parliament,” Rachel Stephen-Smith, ACT Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, said.
“This event will provide a place for positive conversations, and allow us to build our collective understanding of what this historic referendum will mean.”
Selina Walker, co-chair of the ACT Reconciliation Council, said the event was “an opportunity for all Canberrans to come together, have a chat and learn from each other so we can all be a positive voice for generations”.
Reconciliation Day at the National Arboretum will feature:
• Local musical performances, including Australian pop duo Microwave Jenny
• Portrait exhibition featuring leaders of reconciliation in our community
• Thought-provoking panel discussions facilitated by members of the ACT Reconciliation Council
• Language workshops
• Art and craft workshops
• Bush tucker demonstrations
• Family-friendly games and activities including sack races, parachute games, and kite flying (weather permitting)
“There is a host of things to look forward to this year, including the return of the much-loved Sea of Hands, where ACT school students decorate a hand template using colours, words, or pictures that represent what reconciliation means to them,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“All the activities have been designed to promote conversations about reconciliation and foster a deeper understanding of Australia’s true history.”
The ACT is the only jurisdiction to recognise Reconciliation Day as a public holiday. This day falls during Reconciliation Week, which is marked across Australia from 27 May (anniversary of the 1967 Referendum) to 3 June (Mabo Day) each year.
“Reconciliation is about building relationships, respect and trust between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” Richard Baker, co-chair of the ACT Reconciliation Council, said.
“In the context of the upcoming Referendum, there is crucial work to be done promoting the benefits and importance of reconciliation across all areas of our diverse community.
“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.”
For more information about the ACT Government’s event and additional Reconciliation Week resources, visit events.canberra.com.au/reconciliation-day.
