Reconciliation in Action

St Paul Lutheran School 

Acknowledgement of Country

At St Paul Lutheran, we acknowledge all First Nations people within our school community. We offer our respects to the Kaurna people and their elders past, present, and emerging and recognise their deep relationships to the land. We recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are Australia's first storytellers, artists, communities and creators of culture. We appreciate the gum trees, lorikeets and magpies we see on the big park and in nature play and commit to caring for and respecting these lands, just as the Kaurna people have for generations. We promise to protect and nurture the environment, ensuring it remains a safe and welcoming space for all. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.

National Reconciliation Week – 27 May to 3 June

From 27 May to 3 June, National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to engage in shared histories and cultures and understand how we can all work towards reconciliation. 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.

Reconciliation is also an education process and the key to positive change. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures should form a crucial part of the curriculum and provide the opportunity for all children to gain an understanding of First Nations cultures, traditions, and stories. No matter how young or what kind of background, children can begin to engage in learning more through impactful stories created by First Nations people.

The theme of the National Reconciliation Week, 2026, is "All In". The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2026, All In, is a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day. All In makes clear that reconciliation is not a spectator sport and that all of us must step away from the sidelines and take action to make change.

The theme also reminds us that reconciliation and advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights isn’t a passive activity, and it is not solely the responsibility of First Nations people, who have carried the weight of championing, explaining and acting for far too long.

Reconciliation will not happen by itself, and it will not happen without all of us.

For more information: National Reconciliation Week - Reconciliation Australia

The #NRW2026 artwork is called Gaagal. Gumbaynggirr Bundjalung artist Otis Hope Carey explains its inspiration and significance:

‘All of my paintings connect to water. This artwork uses the ocean as a metaphor for people from all walks of life swirling together to be ‘all in’ for reconciliation.

‘The phrase ‘Gaagal’ translates to ‘Ocean’, and it is the totemic spiritual emblem of the Gumbaynggirr people. It’s a really important clan totem and holds a lot of healing elements for us.

‘We are a saltwater and freshwater people, and any body of water is sacred to us. My paintings are my interpretation of my connection to water. I use patterns to capture the flow of connection and the energetic rhythms of moving water.

‘Concentric circles are traditional symbols which are exaggerated and expanded out to represent water and the way it may move in ripples when struck by rain, wind, or if a rock were to hit its surface.

‘This echoes the action of people moving together for change, their voices and actions rippling outwards, inviting others on the reconciliation journey.

‘The movement in the work is a representation of tidal charts, wave currents and flowing tides, which emulates the non-stop movement of the ocean… a symbol that reflects the ongoing fight for reconciliation in this country.’

National Reconciliation Week at the South Australian Museum 

The South Australian Museum invites you to take part in our National Reconciliation Week program, including cultural tours with Bookabee Australia, family-friendly activities and a new display exploring the Museum’s work in repatriation at Kaurna Wangayarta. Find out more and book tours on the South Australian Museum website. 

Aboriginal Cultures Gallery Tours 

Join cultural guides from Bookabee Australia for an informative tour of the Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery. The Gallery contains the largest and most comprehensive collection of Australian Aboriginal cultural material in the world. 

Book in for one of three tours: 

• Wednesday 27 May (10:30am – 12:00pm) 
• Saturday 30 May (1:00pm – 2:30pm) 
• Tuesday 2 June (2:00pm – 3:30pm) 

Tickets are $10 for general admission; $5 for concession and Museum Members. 

Reconciliation Family Space 

On level 2 of the Museum, families with young children aged 3 to 6 years can explore a dedicated space designed to introduce young learners to the spirit of Reconciliation Week. Picture books by First Nations authors and illustrators create a gentle entry point into culture, identity and Country. The space also features the ABC series Dance with Tom, a joyful celebration of Yugambeh language and stories through movement. It’s a fun and inclusive way for children to experience First Nations language in action. This space will open from Saturday 30 May – Wednesday 3 June and is free to explore. No bookings required. 

Kaurna Wangayarta Display 

The new display in the Museum’s foyer celebrates the spirit of reconciliation behind Kaurna Wangayarta, the purpose-built memorial park dedicated to the reburial of Kaurna ancestral remains. Wangayarta was developed by the Kaurna People together with the South Australian Museum. More than 580 Kaurna Ancestors have been repatriated at Wangayarta since 2021.