Reconciling community
HOSTING the Queensland Reconciliation Awards has helped shine a spotlight on indigenous reconciliation efforts in Cairns.
Tonight’s pool of finalists for the awards includes organisations and initiatives focused on employment opportunities for indigenous people and cross-cultural understanding, the sharing of indigenous culture through fashion, theatre and community events and the strengthening of educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.
Last year, Far North organisations won four out of the five awards: CaPTA Group, Cairns Hockey Association, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, and The Puuya Foundation and the Lockhart River Aboriginal community.
This year, Rio Tinto Aluminium Limited has been nominated in the business category for their Amrun bauxite project at Weipa, which employs more than 300 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, including over 100 locals.
Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council has also been nominated in the community category for the Yarrabah Band Festival.
Yarrabah Mayor Ross Andrews said the nomination emphasised the positive work the band had done for the community.
“When we reflect on it, it shows the great job we’ve done promoting the community,” he said.
“It’s given school kids something to do in our community and we’ve been able to bring in some big-name artists to perform.”
The award ceremony will take place tonight at Tanks Arts Centre in Tank 5 from 7pm.