National Reconciliation Week 2020: Online and ongoing

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) 2020 will be celebrated entirely online, a way of life we have all become very familiar with in the past couple of months.

“As this year’s National Reconciliation Week theme says, we are in this together,” said Reconciliation Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Karen Mundine.

“That theme is resonating now in ways we could not have foreseen but it reminds us whether in a crisis or in reconciliation, we are all in this together!

“Our program of online events and activities mean we can still be in this together while being apart.”

“The anniversary dates which mark National Reconciliation Week (NRW) are significant milestones for reconciliation: 27 May – the 1967 Referendum, and 3 June – the High Court Mabo decision.

“Like other important dates we commemorate, the purpose remains the same even if the way we mark it is different,” said Ms Mundine.

“We are launching the week on Wednesday 27 May by asking everyone to take to social media to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Country they are on – a way we can all be in this together while being apart.”

2020 marks twenty years since 250,000 Australians walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and across bridges in all capital cities and many other cities and towns around the country.

“The reconciliation bridge walks marked a shift in our national consciousness and twenty years later more than 90% of Australians now support reconciliation, with 80% believing in the importance of formal truth-telling processes,” said Ms Mundine.

We’re suggesting 20 ways you can be in this together in 2020. Here’s a few to start:

  • Be part of the National Acknowledgement of Country: To launch National Reconciliation Week, Reconciliation Australia is asking everyone to take to social media to acknowledge Country from 12pm Wednesday 27 May.
  • Watch the panel discussion about the 2000 bridge walks for reconciliation: Facebook live on Reconciliation Australia Facebook page and ABC Facebook pages. 12pm – 1pm Thursday 28 May
  • Show us your bridge walk photo! Were you on a walk for reconciliation in the year 2000 anywhere in Australia? Add your photo and story about your reconciliation bridge walk to social media on the anniversary of the Sydney bridge walk on Thursday 28 May and tag #NRW2020 #InThisTogether2020.
  • Tune in to In Concert Together: Reconciliation Australia and ABC bring you Busby Marou, Alice Skye, and Jimblah in concert, hosted by Christine Anu on her National Evenings show on ABC Radio and on Facebook live on Reconciliation Australia Facebook page and ABC Facebook pages at 9pm-10pm, Friday 29 May.

Check out our 20 ways you can be #InThisTogether2020 and more info at the National Reconciliation Week site

#NRW2020 #InThisTogether2020

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Paul House with gum leaves and smoke
Paul Girrawah House

Paul Girrawah House has multiple First Nation ancestries from the South-East Canberra region, including the Ngambri-Ngurmal (Walgalu), Pajong (Gundungurra), Wallabollooa (Ngunnawal) and Erambie/Brungle (Wiradyuri) family groups.

Paul acknowledges his diverse First Nation history, he particularly identifies as a descendant of Onyong aka Jindoomang from Weereewaa (Lake George) and Henry ‘Black Harry’ Williams from Namadgi who were both multilingual, essentially Walgalu-Ngunnawal-Wiradjuri speaking warriors and Ngunnawal–Wallaballooa man William Lane aka ‘Billy the Bull’ - Murrjinille.

Paul was born at the old Canberra hospital in the centre of his ancestral country and strongly acknowledges his First Nation matriarch ancestors, in particular his mother Dr Aunty Matilda House-Williams and grandmother, Ms Pearl Simpson-Wedge.

Paul completed a Bachelor of Community Management from Macquarie University, and Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage and Management from CSU.

Paul provided the Welcome to Country for the 47th Opening of Federal Parliament in 2022. Paul is Board Director, Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council, Member Indigenous Reference Group, National Museum of Australia and Australian Government Voice Referendum Engagement Group.  

Paul works on country with the ANU, First Nations Portfolio as a Senior Community Engagement Officer

Acknowledgement of Country

Reconciliation Australia acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing  connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away.

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