In this together - Join us for National Reconciliation Week 2020! // Wed 27th May - Wed 3rd June

I have been watching cooking shows from Darwin on SBS Food and on NITV about First Nation kitchen and bush tucker cooking. Wanting to learn more and incorporate knowledge into my own kitchen.

@Former-Member @Faith-and-Hope

I’ve read a bit of the information provided here. Makarrata, coming together after a struggle. Oh for unity.

Sounds like a great program @Faith-and-Hope. And @Maggie I hadn't come across that word before but the meaning sounds pretty amazing.

I have been watching cooking shows from Darwin on SBS Food and on NITV about First Nation kitchen and bush tucker cooking.--- I have been watching them too @Faith-and-Hope , @Former-Member , @Maggie and they are really interesting

and also watched a series which was recorded in Kakadu in the N.T which one of my customers was in

Do you know How many is in a "Mob" ---- ( anymore than 3 is called a mob)

@Former-Member @Faith-and-Hope @Shaz51 @Maggie

I like to read about indigenous stories about the stars.

According to Aboriginal Legend, emus were creator spirits that used to fly and look over the land. To spot the emu, look south to the Southern Cross; the dark cloud between the stars is the head, while the neck, body and legs are formed from dust lanes stretching across the Milky Way. "The position in the sky tells us when to collect emu eggs; it's very well known all across Australia."

CSIRO Indigenous astronomer Ray Norris told the Yolngu Dreamtime story of the three brothers to ABC Radio Sydney:

“They say three young boys were out fishing and all they could catch were kingfish.

"One got so hungry he ate one of the kingfish.

"The Sun was so angry that she created a waterspout that blew them up into the sky as a warning to kids that you've got to obey the tribal laws.

"The three stars we see, they're the three brothers. On either side of that, which we would call the hand and feet of the Orion, that's the front and end of the canoe.

"The Orion nebula where new stars are being born; they're the fish."

We are in this together.

I read 'The Uluru Statement From the Heart'. It is truly a tragedy what has happened to the First Nations people in this country, and to their children. 😞

"We seek a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making between governments and First Nations and truth-telling about our history."

I also read about the Reconciliation Bridge Walks, held across Australia in 2000, the biggest being 250,000 people walking across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in support of reconciliation.

"Over the course of the year, close to a million people took part in reconciliation walks in all capital cities, towns and regions across the country. From the recommendations of CAR, and the proceeds raised during the 2000 walks for reconciliation, Reconciliation Australia was established to continue a formal process of making Australia a more just, equitable and reconciled nation."

I have also followed Reconciliation Australia on Facebook.

Hi all. @Former-Member the Makarrata is the name for the actions and other things that the big meeting at Uluru called for a few years ago - The Statement From The Heart. @Maggie @NatureLover @jem80 @Shaz51 and anyone else reading this.

There is so much I could write here. I support reconciliation all the time but it is good to see a week dedicated to it where there's a lot more media and conversation about it and what is needed. In particular I know from living in the NT for so many years, that children are still being removed from their families and often placed in white households rather than with relatives or people in the communities they come from. I have friends who are still affected by the fall-out from their families being separated, some still trying to find their country and their kin and many missing out on learning the 'lore' (men's and women's business).

I believe in 'closing the gap' and teaching in local language as well as english (learning 'two-way'). And full consultation with communities about anything that will affect them (e.g. fracking) - as they say "nothing about me without me". Sitting down in country and listening.

Dadirri is a beautiful concept and really worth reading about - 'listening to the waters within' brought out to the world by Miriam-Rose Ungenmarr-Baumann (spelling?!). https://www.miriamrosefoundation.org.au/about-dadirri

The Barunga Statement is also worth a read - now over 30 years ago but still as relevant as then. https://aiatsis.gov.au/barunga-statement

I could rave on about this topic. Places I've been, people I've known, things I've learned and seen. But I only know about the tip of the iceberg. I hope we have some people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander who will share on this thread.

Hi @Former-Member

I have an interest in reconciliation week and the indigenous peoples as I studied contemporary indigenous studies as part of my Bachelor of Arts degree at uni and find the whole indigenous culture and backgrounds,etc, very interesting. I like how there are differences in health and how they believe they should treat their cultures in regards to their beliefs and so forth. I would personally like to do more learning in regards to the indigenous populations of Australia as I believe we can learn a lot from them in all aspects of life.

Hey @jem80 and @Shaz51 👋❤️️

@NatureLover thanks for those quotes, it's unfortunate the health crisis prevents a walk for Reconciliation this year.

@eth great to read about Dadirri and the Burunga statement. It's devastating the trauma that is historical and ongoing. From the mental health side of things we know disempowerment only compounds trauma, so "Nothing about me without me" sounds so relevant. From the Uluru statement and the Burunga statement it sounds like this is what First Nations peoples have been fighting for a long time. It would be really great to hear from any First Nations members if you want to jump in, but no pressure.

@Judi9877 I agree there is a lot to learn about First Nations culture, and a lot this provides for the wellbeing of our country. I know there was a lot of coverage about Aboriginal fire management during the bushfires.

I'm also feeling there's a lot for me to learn about being an ally, there are a few articles if anyone is interested:

https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2018/05/28/how-be-good-indigenous-ally
https://www.blakdance.org.au/articles/allyship#

@Former-Member wrote:

I'm also feeling there's a lot for me to learn about being an ally, there are a few articles if anyone is interested:

https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2018/05/28/how-be-good-indigenous-ally
https://www.blakdance.org.au/articles/allyship#

---

I read the articles on being an ally...interesting. @Former-Member

"Just remember: Aboriginal people need to be the actors, directors and producers on issues affecting us with non-Aboriginal people can help by being the backstage crew."

-- From https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2018/05/28/how-be-good-indigenous-ally

I was particularly interested in the information on correct use of terminology in the second article:

"TWO-SPIRIT
Two-Spirit is an umbrella term that includes gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trans/gender non-conforming identities and is what the “2S” stands for in
LGBTQ2S. The term was intertribally adopted in Winnipeg during a gathering in the early 1990’s. Traditionally, people who were Two-Spirit were thought as being “born in balance” and held specific roles within their communities. The
term is an act of resistance against settler colonial forms of sex/gender, meaning that only Indigenous people can identify as being Two-Spirit."

I like how LGBTQ2S people are celebrated, not discriminated against.

"POW WOW
A traditional First Nations’ gathering and celebration of dance, song, socializing and honoring of a rich heritage. Not to be used to describe a meeting or group of people."

-- From https://www.blakdance.org.au/articles/allyship#