National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to come together and share. It is also a time to learn about each other’s cultures, histories and achievements. It is also a time to learn how we can contribute to being able to achieve reconciliation in Australia.

Reconciliation week runs from 27- June 3rd, these dates are significant in the reconciliation journey. The dates of Reconciliation Week highlight two significant events in Australia’s history, the Mabo land rights case decision and the 1967 referendum where Aboriginal people won the right to vote alongside their fellow white Australian.

When European settlement began there was a lot of unrest in Aboriginal culture, reconciliation is a method for Aboriginal and non-aboriginal people to come together and form strong bonds with each other.

Every year there is a theme for reconciliation week, this year’s theme is Now More Than Ever. The now more than ever theme reminds us no matter what, we must continue to fight for Aboriginal rights. Aboriginal people haven’t had an easy time with European settlement, there was unrest between European and Indigenous Australians. There was the stolen generation in which aboriginal children were removed from their biological parents and were assimilated into the European culture and many didn’t see their biological parents again. They were discouraged from practising their customs and culture. They were forced to go to school and not follow their culture and beliefs. Therefore many aboriginal people turned to alcohol and drug addiction encouraged by the European culture. There were many massacres, one happened at Red Rock near Coffs Harbour.

Despite the injustices of the European culture, aboriginal people have been lucky enough to learn about cultural activities such as dot painting, dream time storytelling and other cultural activities. The majority of aboriginal people still do dot painting and tell stories of the dream time.

This reconciliation week why not get out and experience Aboriginal culture.