Reconciliation Week

Each year Langwarrin Primary School takes time during reconciliation week to learn about Australia’s First Nations People and to reflect on Australia’s history.

Reconciliation takes place from the 27th of May to the 3rd of June each year and incorporates many key events in Australia’s calendar.

Wednesday the 26th of May marks the anniversary of the National Apology or Sorry Day.

Thursday the 27th of May is the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum: on this day 90% of Australians voted for the Australian Government to make laws for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and count them in the census.

Thursday the 3rd of June ends the week on the day the Australian High Court delivered the Mabo decision, voiding ‘terra nullius’ (land belonging to no one) and leading to the legal recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of lands. This decision paved the way for Native Title.

In class we have been learning about

• the 1967 referendum
• Sorry Day
• Mabo and land rights
• Indigenous Art forms
• stories from the oldest living culture in the world
• the significance of a Welcome to and Acknowledgment of Country

Keep an eye out for art work, poems and stories from our students during Reconciliation week.

https://nrw.reconciliation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/NRW-2021-Artwork-activity.pdf

Jaime Humphrey

Grade 5 teacher/ Indigenous Engagement