On Friday 1st June 2018, Inala Community House celebrated National Reconciliation Week at our ICH Business Centre Hall.
During National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June), Reconciliation Australia invites all Australians to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories, share the knowledge, form respectful relationships and help us grow as a nation.
Two key dates to remember:
27 May 1967 – On this day, Australia’s most successful referendum saw more than 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Australian Government power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recognise them in the Census.
3 June 1992 – On this day, the Australian High Court delivered the Mabo decision, the culmination of Eddie Koiki Mabo’s challenge to the legal fiction of ‘terra nullius’ (land belonging to no one) and leading to the legal recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of lands. The decision paved the way for Native Title.
“Don’t Keep History A Mystery: Learn. Share. Grow.”
This year’s National Reconciliation Week campaign highlights some of the lesser-known aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, and achievements, to prompt Australians to ask ourselves: what are some of the things I don’t know about our shared history?
For more information and free useful resources, please visit https://www.reconciliation.org.au/national-reconciliation-week/.
Our special guests in attendance: Aunty Matilda Bani (Department of Human Services), Aunty Jean (Inala Elders), Aunty Pat (President of Inala Elders), Uncle Doug (Police Liaison Officer of Queensland Police Service) and Uncle Pete (artist).
“Welcome everyone as we gather here today to celebrate 2018 National Reconciliation Week. Thank you, Uncle Doug, for doing an Acknowledgment of Country to show our respect for the Traditional Owners. Today’s event is a valuable reminder that we are all merely visitors to the land, where we are fortunate enough to work and live on. Please take this opportunity today to truly reflect, learn and share more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures within our community and beyond,” said our Community Engagement Manager Haley Kiata, also the organiser of the event.
“Thank you all for attending today’s meaningful event. A special acknowledgment to artist Uncle Pete for sharing his range of inspiring Aboriginal artworks, as well as the histories and stories behind each of them,” said our Managing Director Ross Paul.
Everyone in attendance got to admire, learn and even attempt to create art featuring Australian animals (like emu, koala, kangaroo and more), under the patient guidance of Uncle Pete.
Other event highlights included studying Uncle Pete’s artistically carved emu eggs up close, as well as sampling Aboriginal-inspired food like crocodile vol-au-vents. Yum!
Inala Community House is also glad to support the sale of Uncle Pete’s Aboriginal artworks.
To contact Inala Community House: 3372 1711 | info@ich.org.au | www.ich.org.au | Facebook.com/ICHAustralia | 38 Sittella Street, Inala, Queensland.