Latest news with #KarenMundine
West Australian
26-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Australians urged to walk together for reconciliation
As Australians crossed into a new millennium, more than 250,000 people crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge for reconciliation. It was an iconic moment Reconciliation Australia chief executive Karen Mundine said, and one being remembered 25 years later as Reconciliation Week begins with the theme "Bridging Now to Next". "That was such a great moment, to see so many people came out in force and say 'I want to be part of this work, I want to be part of reconciliation'," she told AAP. Reconciliation Week is held each year between May 27 and June 3, marking the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively. Ms Mundine said to understand where Australia found itself, it was important to understand the past, the triumphs and the setbacks, and the truth of its history. "'Bridging Now to Next' is really about learning from history, it's about grounding us and where we are today and then using all of that combined knowledge to chart a new path forward," she said. Ms Mundine said 25 years after the bridge walk, there was still a need for reconciliation in Australia, with the issues of voice, treaty and truth-telling, raised in the Uluru Statement from the Heart not yet dealt with. "(During the referendum) we weren't able to convince enough Australians to get that over the line," she said. "That's the job of reconciliation to get out there and broaden the Australian community's understanding about history and understanding that impact on First Nations people, not just in the past but as it happens today." Monday marked eight years since the Uluru Statement from the Heart was issued, an anniversary that brought up a lot of emotion for Allira Davis. The Cobble Cobble woman is a co-chair of the Uluru Youth Dialogue and Australia still has a long way to go to meaningfully recognise Aboriginal people. "We still need structural reform in place," she said. "We still need something that represents us. "Unfortunately, Closing the Gap is not working. We've only met four of the 19 targets ... something needs to change." But just as the thousands who crossed the harbour bridge for reconciliation in 2000, Ms Davis said there were plenty of people who stood with First Nations people in October 2023, and continue to do so. "We do have 6.2 million friends that did vote yes," she said. "In terms of reconciliation, I think our non-Indigenous brothers and sisters are still walking with us."
Perth Now
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Australians urged to walk together for reconciliation
As Australians crossed into a new millennium, more than 250,000 people crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge for reconciliation. It was an iconic moment Reconciliation Australia chief executive Karen Mundine said, and one being remembered 25 years later as Reconciliation Week begins with the theme "Bridging Now to Next". "That was such a great moment, to see so many people came out in force and say 'I want to be part of this work, I want to be part of reconciliation'," she told AAP. Reconciliation Week is held each year between May 27 and June 3, marking the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively. Ms Mundine said to understand where Australia found itself, it was important to understand the past, the triumphs and the setbacks, and the truth of its history. "'Bridging Now to Next' is really about learning from history, it's about grounding us and where we are today and then using all of that combined knowledge to chart a new path forward," she said. Ms Mundine said 25 years after the bridge walk, there was still a need for reconciliation in Australia, with the issues of voice, treaty and truth-telling, raised in the Uluru Statement from the Heart not yet dealt with. "(During the referendum) we weren't able to convince enough Australians to get that over the line," she said. "That's the job of reconciliation to get out there and broaden the Australian community's understanding about history and understanding that impact on First Nations people, not just in the past but as it happens today." Monday marked eight years since the Uluru Statement from the Heart was issued, an anniversary that brought up a lot of emotion for Allira Davis. The Cobble Cobble woman is a co-chair of the Uluru Youth Dialogue and Australia still has a long way to go to meaningfully recognise Aboriginal people. "We still need structural reform in place," she said. "We still need something that represents us. "Unfortunately, Closing the Gap is not working. We've only met four of the 19 targets ... something needs to change." But just as the thousands who crossed the harbour bridge for reconciliation in 2000, Ms Davis said there were plenty of people who stood with First Nations people in October 2023, and continue to do so. "We do have 6.2 million friends that did vote yes," she said. "In terms of reconciliation, I think our non-Indigenous brothers and sisters are still walking with us."
SBS Australia
26-05-2025
- Politics
- SBS Australia
What is Reconciliation Week and why are the dates significant?
National Reconciliation Week is held between 27 May and 3 June each year. The start and end dates mark major milestones in First Nations history. 'Bridging Now to Next' is the theme for this year's week. National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for Australians to learn about shared histories, cultures, and achievements. This year's NRW theme of 'Bridging Now to Next' reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future. NRW is celebrated every year, from 27 May to 3 June, with these dates especially significant for First Nations peoples. These dates "commemorate two significant milestones in our history", according to the CEO of Reconciliation Australia, Karen Mundine. "The successful 1967 referendum, where 90.77 per cent of Australians voted 'yes' for Indigenous rights, and the 1992 High Court Mabo decision, which overturned the lie of terra nullius — that this continent was unoccupied when the British arrived," she told SBS. "Reconciliation is about building and strengthening relationships between First Nations peoples and other Australians, about understanding the true history of Australia's colonisation. "It is about justice for First Nations and a more united Australia that respects 65,000 years of First Nations cultures and achievements." In addition to the significance of the start and end dates for the week, the day before Reconciliation Week, May 26, is National Sorry Day. The day acknowledges the Stolen Generations, who were removed from their families and communities under government policy between 1910 and 1970. Meanwhile, the successful May 27, 1967, referendum led to the changing of two sections of the Australian Constitution. It resulted in the repeal of Section 127, which had excluded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from Australia's population. The referendum also saw the removal of "other than the Aboriginal race" from Section 51 (xxvi) . This amendment meant states could no longer make policies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, such as the Aboriginal Protection Acts, which legally allowed the state to remove children. The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody presented its final report to Parliament in 1991. A recommendation of the report was the beginning of a process of national reconciliation. From there, the Parliament passed the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation Act, which established the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR). Under the legislation, CAR would operate for a decade, under the vision of a "united Australia" that respects the land, "values the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage and provides justice and equity for all". The council hosted 25 members, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. Former Labor Senator, Yawuru man and the 'Father of Reconciliation' Pat Dodson was the inaugural Chair . In 1997, Indigenous rights activist Dr Evelyn Scott took over the position. In 1993, the first National Week of Prayer for Reconciliation was observed. Three years later, support had expanded so CAR launched the nation's first Reconciliation Week. CAR's final reports to various non-Indigenous leaders including then prime minister John Howard and Governor-General Sir William Deane — The Australian Declaration towards Reconciliation and The Roadmap for Reconciliation — argued a reconciled nation could not be achieved in only a decade. This led to the establishment of the national peak body Reconciliation Australia.
ABC News
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Reconciliation Week is almost here. This is how you can take part
Every year National Reconciliation Week starts on May 27 and runs until June 3. "Reconciliation is everyone's business, every day of the year," says Karen Mundine, a Bundjalung woman and the CEO of Reconciliation Australia. "But [Reconciliation] Week in particular is a chance for all Australians to get involved." Reconciliation is "about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples," according to Reconciliation Australia. The theme for 2025 is 'Bridging Now to Next', prompting Australians to look ahead and continue to push forward towards a more united and respectful nation, with past lessons as guidance. Here's how you can get involved at home, in your community and workplace. The week begins after National Sorry Day and marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum, held on May 27, where Australians voted to change how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were referred to in the constitution. It concludes with another anniversary, with June 3, 1992 marking the Mabo decision, where a High Court ruling overturned the legal concept of terra nullius — that land was owned by no-one prior to white settlement. Ms Mundine recommends checking if local First Nations organisations are hosting events, such as open days. "Cultural tours of your town or city are also a great way to learn more about the Country you're on and its rich history." Gunditjmara woman Catherine Coysh is the program manager of On-Country Pathways and says "the best way to get to know Aboriginal culture is to seek it from your local Aboriginal community and make genuine relationships." The National Reconciliation Week calendar can help you find events and activities near you. For groups, Ms Mundine recommends checking out the Reconciliation Film Club, which helps members of the community screen documentaries by First Nations filmmakers. The club can provide access to a recommended film with a fee going directly to the producers of the documentary. For smaller groups or going solo, picking up a book from a First Nations author can "broaden perspectives and understanding". Carly Bush, the CEO of Reconciliation NSW says this also applies to podcasts and social media. "Doing some of your own personal learning is always the best place to start." "I look at [Reconciliation Week] as an opportunity to reflect on the history of the country and also around genuine engagement and working and talking to First Nations people," says Christian Lugnan, a Gumbaynggirr and Dhanggati Goori man and deputy CEO of Children's Ground. From a business or corporate perspective, Mr Lugnan says to consider how you engage with community. For instance, "do you understand the location [and] the history of the location where you're operating from?" This can also extend to whether you provide employment and training opportunities and if there are First Nations businesses in your supply chains. Mr Lugnan also encourages businesses to consider developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) if they haven't got one. For ones that do, Ms Bush from Reconciliation NSW says it may be an opportunity for the business to review and discuss the commitments made. She says to be mindful of where the cultural load is falling. Ms Coysh says there "needs to be an ongoing commitment to cultural safety" in workplaces. Cultural safety is something she helps businesses that partner with On-Country Pathways with. It includes being aware of unconscious bias, and not challenging someone's cultural identity, which can leave them feeling unwelcome or unsafe, she says. Mr Lugnan says to be mindful that Reconciliation Week can be a difficult time for First Nations people because there can be an increase in negative commentary online. Mr Lugnan also suggests taking genuine interest in community, elders and learning some local language. "When you're speaking the language of a particular Country, the Country is listening and … when you're speaking the language you're respecting the ancestors from that Country. "Local people feel and hear that," he says. Underlying all the ways to be involved in Reconciliation Week, Ms Mundine says is "knowing where you stand". "Ask yourself: Whose Country am I on? What's the shared history of this place and what is my community's relationship to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?" Ms Mundine says you can get involved by speaking up "if you hear something ignorant, hurtful or wrong". "Commit to being actively anti-racist and ask yourself the hard questions about the role and impact of racism in our society." For people looking to do or learn more beyond the week, there are a range of resources Reconciliation Australia suggests. For example, Ms Mundine says to "read, watch or listen to First Nations media" or to refer to the Australian Museum resources to learn more about Australia's frontier wars.#newsletter:abc-life_optin
