INDIGENOUS NEWS

RECONCILIATION AND NAIDOC WEEK

National Reconciliation Week begins on the 27th May, commemorating the successful 1967 referendum which recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as part of the Australian population. The week ends on the 3rd June, the day of the High Court Mabo which recognised the fact that First Nations peoples had lived in Australia for tens of thousands of years with laws and customs which giving them rights to their lands.

At MESC we embraced this year’s theme “Be a Voice for Generations” by encouraging both, students across all year levels and staff to create personal and meaningful Acknowledgment of Country. How powerful and touching are these?

NAIDOC week takes place a month later, during the first week of July. NAIDOC stands for National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee. It dates back to the 1920’s when Aboriginal groups first sought to increase awareness of status and treatment of First Nations’ Peoples in Australia. Keep a look out for events near you!

Irene Treadwell

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

Adelaide - Acknowledgment of Country Good morning I am a Koorie student. My Country is in New South Wales and I am just beginning to find out more about my culture. I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and pay all myrespects to the Indigenous, Torres strait and Boonwurrung peoples of this land in which I live on today. I would also like to pay my respects to the past, present and emerging, and would like to thank the Indigenous peoples for letting me live here. I can't imagine how upsetting it would be to go through all the things they did and to lose their children and some of their land. I would just like to say thank you to the school for letting me and the other Koorie students be a part of this community and I feel honoured that I get the opportunities at MESC to express myself and my culture. Thank you.