In light of The Long Walk 2017 which took place on Saturday May 27, Southern Cross Pacific celebrates the challenges we have overcome and recognises the journey still to come on the road to reconciliation. National Reconciliation Week, an annual celebration running from March 27 to June 3, aims to highlight the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other Australians. The week-long celebration is commemorated by two key dates; May 27 marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum which recognised Indigenous peoples in the national census, while June 3 marks the Australian High Court’s landmark Mabo decision in 1992 which legally recognised the special relationship which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have with the land.
For 2017, the theme for National Reconciliation week is “Let’s take the next steps”, highlighting the importance of continuing legal and social progress towards reconciliation. Australians are invited to participate in National Reconciliation Week, encouraged to work together and strengthen respectful relationships.
You can take part in National Reconciliation Week by participating in a range of activities and events across Australia, many of which can be found here. Make reconciliation a part of your story.