July 2002

Reconciliation in words and music

Reconciliation Week activities at juvenile justice centres encouraged young people to celebrate Aboriginal culture and acknowledge the experiences of indigenous Australians.

Aboriginal musicians Monica Whiteman, Alan Bowles and last year’s NAIDOC person of the year Kutcha Edwards visited young people at the Melbourne JJC.

The three musicians have worked extensively with young people involved with the juvenile justice program through their involvement with In-House Music.

As well as performing, the visitors spoke to the young people about the experiences and difficulties they have faced as indigenous people and encouraged young people to have pride in their heritage.

Mr Edwards also spoke with and performed for young people at Parkville Youth Residential Centre.

Aboriginal young people at Malmsbury JJC painted a banner to promote the 2002 NAIDOC week celebrations.

The banner was attached to the Bendigo tourist tram for three weeks before and during NAIDOC week—on show for Bendigo’s 80,000 residents and tourists visiting the area.

This year’s National Reconciliation Week—with the theme Reconciliation: Walking the Talk—was the seventh since the former Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation first initiated it in 1996.

National Reconciliation Week takes place between the two significant reconciliation dates—the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum on May 27 and June 3, the anniversary of the High Court’s Mabo judgment in 1992.