More than a Word. Reconciliation takes action.
National Reconciliation Week is held annually from 27 May to 3 June.
It is a time to celebrate and build on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians.
Reconciliation Australia’s theme for 2021, More than a word. Reconciliation takes action, urges the reconciliation movement towards braver and more impactful action.
Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians – as individuals, families, communities, organisations and importantly as a nation. At the heart of this journey are relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
To our new supporters, please remember the importance of privileging and amplifying First Nations’ voices as you add your voice to calls for reconciliation and justice.
We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.
2021 marks twenty years of Reconciliation Australia and almost three decades of Australia’s formal reconciliation process.
Find out more about National Reconciliation Week #MoreThanAWord #NRW2021
Preceded by National Sorry Day on 26 May, National Reconciliation Week is framed by two key events in Australia’s history, which provide strong symbols for reconciliation:
- 27 May 1967– the referendum that 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– the Australian High Court delivered the Mabo decision, which recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a special relationship with the land. This paved the way for land rights known as native title.
National Reconciliation Week is an ideal time for everyone to join the reconciliation conversation and reflect on our shared histories, contributions and achievements.
Check out the National Reconciliation Week website here: https://nrw.reconciliation.org.au/
- Reconciliation Australia is the lead body for reconciliation in Australia
- The Share Our Pride interactive learning from Reconciliation Australia is a highly recommended resource and is designed to you a glimpse of how life looks from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective.
- Reconciliation Australia’s YouTube Channel is a significant resource. The Apology documentary, Who We Are series and Narragunnawali series are particularly informative.
- Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) is a world-renowned research, collections and publishing organisation. They promote knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, traditions, languages and stories, past and present.
