National Reconciliation Week takes place from 27 May to 3 June every year. The theme for 2021 was ‘More than a Word. Reconciliation Takes Action’, which encourages Australians to move past words and turn their sentiments into real action.
Aboriginal Australians regularly experience discrimination and poorer outcomes than non-Aboriginal Australians in health, employment, education and housing.
On census night in 2016, 1 in 28 Aboriginal Australians were experiencing homelessness, 10 times that of non-Aboriginal Australians.
Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians, not just those of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. Wintringham Support Worker and proud Barapa Barapa descendant, Sharee spoke to us about her ancestry and shared some wise words on reconciliation.
“I am a proud Barapa Barapa descendant. My ancestor was born in Wakool, around 60km from Deniliquin in southern NSW,” says Sharee.
“Our ancestry was only uncovered around 12 years ago, as it had been hidden for at least 3 generations, with us all believing we descended from New Zealand! So now myself and my cousins have made it our goal to make sure the lies stop with this generation going forward, so my kids will know of their bloodline. I don’t know much about my 4th great grandmother, only her tribe, but she existed and I won’t let her be forgotten ever again.
“Reconciliation to me means, first of all, acknowledgement and understanding of the horrible treatment of Aboriginal people in the past. It means working with our elders and tribe leaders to ensure the needs of our indigenous citizens are being met both culturally and spiritually.
“I think we still have a long way to go especially in the way of health care, schooling and relationships with authority, in order to achieve some kind of meaningful reconciliation.
“There needs to be more funding for schooling and health services in Aboriginal communities to stop the generational cycles of unemployment, addiction and the high rate of disease and early death of Aboriginal people.”
Thank you for sharing your story with us Sharee, and may this be the beginning of more truths told, more equality and fairness for Aboriginal people and more listening and understanding from all Australians.