Wimmera reflects on National Reconciliation Week 2021

National Reconciliation Week runs from Thursday, May 27, to Thursday, June 3.

The dates that bookend the week are dates of significance: the 1967 referendum and the historic Mabo decision.

"Reconciliation is a step forward towards unity between the two cultures," Aunty Anne said.

"It's about us being recognised in the community as people.

"Creating a better understanding of who we are and what we do."

IN OTHER NEWS:

Aunty Moore is from the Stolen Generation. She was just six months old when she was forcibly taken from her family.

"I wasn't allowed to now my language, to know where I came from," she said.

Aunty Moore said people need to come together to tackle the challenges the Aboriginal community face.

"A big thing is taking that next step forward, moving on from the apology is actually community groups, and council and people taking that next step forward to do something about it," she said.

"Let's start the conversation, let's have that conversation.

"Let's embrace. We're all in this together."

Horsham Rural City Council mayor Robyn Gulline said Reconciliation Week was an opportunity to gather and celebrate Horsham's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and their significant contributions to life today.

"We are encouraging Australians to learn about our Aboriginal culture and share that knowledge," she said.

"Horsham has a strong Indigenous culture, and the week itself provides an opportunity to celebrate and strengthen the reconciliation process.

"We all have 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, cultures, and futures."

National Reconciliation Week was started with a Sea of Hands event at May Park on Thursday, May 27.

Large cut-out hands were available for members of the community to plant in the ground to form a display.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: