#NRW2020 #InThisTogether2020

Our theme for #NRW2020 – In this together – is now resonating in ways we could not have foreseen when we announced it last year, but it reminds us whether in a crisis or in reconciliation we are all #InThisTogether.

National Reconciliation Week  2020 Theme

In 2020 Reconciliation Australia marks twenty years of  shaping Australia’s journey towards a more just, equitable and reconciled nation.

Much has happened since the early days of the people’s movement for reconciliation, including greater acknowledgement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights to land and sea; understanding of the impact of government policies and frontier conflicts; and an embracing of stories of Indigenous success and contribution.

2020 also marks the twentieth anniversary of the reconciliation walks of 2000, when people came together to walk on bridges and roads across the nation and show their support for a more reconciled Australia.

As always, we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, and Australians now benefit from the efforts and contributions of people committed to reconciliation in the past.

Today we work together to further that national journey towards a fully reconciled country.

Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians – as individuals, families, communities, organisations and importantly as a nation. At the heart of this journey are relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We strive towards a more just, equitable nation by championing unity and mutual respect as we come together and connect with one another.

On this journey, Australians are all In This Together; every one of us has a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories and cultures.

What is National Reconciliation Week?

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

The dates for NRW remain the same each year; 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.

Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Events

Share, support and celebrate National Reconciliation Week 2020 by tuning-in to a host of virtual events, and by joining in on the conversation online.

12pm* Wednesday 27 May 2020 || NRW launch: National Acknowledgement of Country

To launch NRW 2020 we are asking everyone to take to social media to acknowledge Country. We can’t be physically together to show respect but we can show respect to Country where we are.

On the first day of NRW, take the time to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Land that you are on, wherever you are.

Choose your social media platform – or the privacy of your own space – to pay your respects.

Consult the AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia for a guide to the Traditional Owners of the Land you are on, and tag the Traditional Owners and/or your own mob plus #InThisTogether2020 #NRW2020

More info on National Acknowledgement of Country

12pm – 1pm* Thursday 28 May 2020 || 20 years on: Crossing Bridges for Reconciliation

20 years on is a panel discussion hosted by ABC Speaking Out’s Larissa Behrendt. Panel members will reflect on the bridge walks of 2000 and the role of reconciliation since that historic moment.

Featuring Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP, The Hon Linda Burney MP, Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine and University of Wollongong Lecturer, Summer May Finlay.

Facebook Livestream on Reconciliation Australia and ABC Australia Facebook pages. The panel will be broadcast on Speaking Out, which can be heard on Radio National (Fridays at 8pm), ABC local Radio (Sundays at 9pm) and the ABC listen app.

More info on the Bridge walks 2000 discussion panel.

9pm -10pm* Friday 29 May 2020 || In Concert Together

Reconciliation Australia and ABC bring you Busby Marou, Alice Skye and more in concert, hosted by Christine Anu on her National Evenings show on ABC Radio.

Tune into ABC Radio or the ABC listen app or watch on the Facebook Livestream on Reconciliation Australia, ABC Sydney or ABC Australia Facebook pages.

*All times are Australian Eastern Standard time.

More info on In Concert Together

20 WAYS TO BE IN THIS TOGETHER IN 2020

From online events, to films, book club, colouring-in, and learning something…here are some ways you can be #InThisTogether2020. All times AEST. You can find out the most up to date info on our socials.

1.   Connect online for the National Acknowledgement of Country at 12 pm Wednesday 27 May

2.   Tune in for a live debate: Reconciliation Bridge Walks of 2000: Paving the path for reconciliation,  Facebook Live 12pm Thursday 28 May

3. In Concert Together: Busby Marou, Alice Skye & Jimblah hosted by Christine Anu on Facebook Live and ABC Radio 9.05pm Friday 29 May

4. Capture the QR code on the printed poster with your phone’s camera to make the artwork come alive

5.   Host an online screening of a Reconciliation Film Club documentary

6.  Read your virtual copy of Reconciliation News May 2020 on our website

7.  Host a virtual book club or reading room with our reconciliation Look for a Book reading list

8. Download the NRW 2020 video conference background to display in your virtual meetings

9.   Download the poster to display in your front window. Share a picture on social with tags: #InThisTogether2020 and #NRW2020

10.  Groove out or chill with our reconciliation channel on Indigitube during Reconciliation Week.

11. Learn more about Nikita Ridgeway’s artwork, Reconciliation, a continuing journey of growth and togetherness  for NRW 2020

12.  Read the Uluru Statement from the Heart and share with your friends

13.  Learn about the history of the Reconciliation Bridge Walks, held across Australia 20 years ago

14.  Share your photos and memories of the Reconciliation Bridge Walks on social with the hashtags: #InThisTogether2020 and #NRW2020

15. Watch the documentary In My Blood it Runs via Vimeo and check out their free screenings for schools

16. Follow Reconciliation Australia on social on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

17. Cook a dish using native ingredients from your local area and share a photo

18. Support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and enterprises

19. Get creative and hold your own virtual NRW 2020 event with family and friends

20.  Stay safe and healthy, and be involved with your local community – because we are #InThisTogether2020.

*(all times AEST)

Reference: https://nrw.reconciliation.org.au/