A series of community events in Far North Queensland to celebrate National Reconciliation Week will be funded by the Palaszczuk Government’s new Celebrating Reconciliation Small Grants Program.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Jackie Trad today announced the first 40 successful applicants under the new program including eight from the Far North.
“The Palaszczuk Government will provide local community groups with grants of up to $2500 to help promote reconciliation and encourage discussion about the historic trauma infliction on First Nation people in this country,” Ms Trad said.
“To genuinely address the continuing gap in outcomes between indigenous and non-indigenous Queenslanders we must move together towards reconciliation,” Ms Trad said.
National Reconciliation Week is a national campaign held each year from 27 May to 3 June to commemorate two significant milestones in Australia’s reconciliation journey – the 1967 referendum and the 1992 High Court Mabo decision.
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said she was very pleased that four of the grant supported events would be in her electorate.
“These include the Generation Rising Initiative Indigenous Corporation hosting Journey Come, Journey On – Sharing our Walk of Reconciliation on 30 May at Bamaga at which elders will tell how families were forced from old Mapoon village at gunpoint while their homes were burnt to the ground,” she said.
“On 1 June the Cape York Partnership will host Wik Nation 2018: Reconciliation Share Our Pride which aims to bring together the Aurukun community to celebrate the unique and rich culture of the Wik Nation people.
“On Thursday Island the Kerkar Bau Reconciliation Awareness Day on 27 May will offer cultural education sessions for 12 to 18-year-olds on traditional cookery, weaving, island dancing and story-telling.
“And the Hope Vale community will commemorate Evacuation Day, marking the forced removal of the Indigenous community to Woorabinda during World War II and their efforts to return to Hope Vale and rebuild their community after the end of the war.”
Other Far North Queensland events funded by the grants program include:
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An art exhibition celebrating Indigenous culture at Cairns Hockey Association;
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Indigenous artists demonstrating and displaying their art work in Innisfail;
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A community day in Manunda showcasing the stories and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders with a disability from Cairns and surrounding regions; and
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A morning tea event with bush tucker performances and stories hosted by Uni Arts in north Cairns
Details of all reconciliation events are available at: www.qld.gov.au/reconciliationgrants
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Media Contact: Cook Electorate Office - 4223 1100
