Reconciliation Week reflects on journey to unite us

MUSIC and other cultural activities are set to educate and entertain families from home when National Reconciliation Week goes virtual.

Hosted by Reconciliation Australia, the community-run event will move to an online format due to coronavirus restrictions.

The event aims to celebrate Aboriginal history, culture and stories, while building relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal residents. Activities include live panel discussions, film screenings and performances from local artists.

This year’s theme is “In this together’’ and also marks the 20th anniversary of the Walk for Reconciliation, where hundreds of thousands of Australians walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and bridges in other cities to unite together for reconciliation.

Australians are asked to show their support online via images, video, text or simply take a few minutes of silent reflection.

“This theme is resonating now in ways we could not have foreseen, but it reminds us whether in a crisis or in reconciliation, we are

all in this together,” Reconciliation Australia chief executive Karen Mundine said.

Supported by News Corp Australia, NRW 2020 will be held until June 3.

These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.

For more information, visit reconciliation.org.au.

Twenty years on: Crossing Bridges for Reconciliation is a panel discussion hosted by ABC Speaking Out’s Larissa Behrendt.

Panel members will reflect on the monumental bridge walks of 2000 and the role of reconciliation since that historic moment. Featuring Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP, The Hon Linda Burney MP, Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine and University of Wollongong Lecturer, Summer May Finlay.

The panel will be broadcast on Speaking Out, which can be heard on Radio National (Fridays at 8pm), ABC local Radio (Sundays at 9pm) and the ABC listen app.

Australian duo Busby Marou, singer Alice Skye and more artists will perform live in concert, hosted by Christine Anu (pictured left) on her National Evenings show on ABC Radio.

Tune into ABC Radio or the ABC listen app or watch on the Facebook Livestream on Reconciliation Australia, ABC Sydney or ABC Australia Facebook pages.

5 WAYS TO BE IN THIS TOGETHER

1. Host an online screening of a Reconciliation Film Club documentary.

2. Get creative and hold your own virtual NRW 2020 event with family and friends. 3. Download the “In this together’’ poster to display in your front window.

4. Cook a dish using native ingredients from your local area and share a photo. 5. Support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and enterprises.