The Harbour Trust Celebrates National Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week, which runs from 27 May to 3 June, is an important opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations history, culture and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

The Harbour Trust acknowledges that Reconciliation is a personal commitment as well as journey Australians must embark on together. At the heart of this journey are respectful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and the broader community.

This year's National Reconciliation Week theme, "A Voice for All Generations," highlights the significance of intergenerational dialogue, sharing of knowledge, and collective action in the journey towards reconciliation.

Join us in recognising National Reconciliation Week by learning about the history and culture of First Nation Peoples. Scroll to discover news, resources and experiences that showcase the First Nations stories of the extraordinary places we protect on Sydney Harbour.

First Nations artist commissioned for the Torpedo Factory Renewal Project at Sub Base Platypus

The Harbour Trust is pleased to announce that Dennis Golding has been commissioned to create three artworks at Sub Base Platypus in North Sydney on Cammeraygal Country. The new artworks will recognise and celebrate Country and culture as part of the Torpedo Factory Renewal project at the site.

Harbour Trust partners with Bush to Bowl to deliver new Bush Tucker Walking Tours in Manly and Mosman

We are excited to announce our partnership with Bush to Bowl to host a series of bush tucker walking tours at North Head Sanctuary in Manly (3 and 4 June) and Headland Park (Georges Heights and Middle Head / Gubbuh Gubbuh) in Mosman (17 and 18 June). The Harbour Trust will be subsidising the costs of these tours so they are now free to attend. We will also be offering bush tucker education tours for school groups at North Head Sanctuary in Manly (19, 20 and 21 June).

Online exhibition: First Nations Stories of Sydney Harbour

The Harbour Trust is the steward of heritage sites in Borogegal, Birrabirrigal, Cammeraygal, Gadigal, Gayamagal, Wallumedegal and Wangal Country. Acquaint yourself with the Traditional Custodians and Owners, and discover why our iconic destinations are significant for the First Nations Peoples of Sydney and beyond.

Image credit: 'Port Jackson, New South Wales' (painting, c. 1825) by Augustus Earle, State Library of NSW, Rex Nan Kivell Collection (NK12/22).

Kids activity: First Nations card game

Looking to stave off boredom and tap into your creativity? Try our First Nations card game! Kids can colour and cut out cards with First Nation symbols to play a game of memory.

History: Wareamah and Sydney's First Nations Peoples

Cockatoo Island / Wareamah connects to the waterways and homelands of the Wallumedegal, Wangal, Cammeraygal and Gadigal Peoples. During the 60,000 years leading to European settlement, the island was a meeting place for these groups. They have the Dharug language in common and, in Dharug, Cockatoo Island is known as Wareamah.

History: Cockatoo Island's First Nations convicts

The stories of First Nations convicts are part of the historical narrative of Cockatoo Island's penal establishment (1839 to 1969). One of the First Nations convicts sent to the island was Toby.

Image credit: Watercolour of Cockatoo Island [Collection of views, ca. 1840-1848 by J.S. Prout], Dixson Galleries, State Library of New South Wales (out of copyright)

Short film: The Dreamtime Story of Buriburi

To mark National Reconciliation Week 2021, the Harbour Trust collaborated on a short interpretation film with the Gujaga Foundation, the Gamay Dancers and First Nations videographer Tamati Smith. Now available to watch, it is an opportunity to consider the origins of Sydney Harbour from the perspective of Coastal Sydney’s Traditional Owners.

Kids activity: Create a Kinship Tree

In First Nations communities the word ‘kinship’ is used to indicate where a person fits into their family and community. In this activity, think of yourself as the tree trunk and think of the people you care about as the leaves.

The Harbour Trust acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and Owners of the lands, waters and sky of Sydney Harbour, including the extraordinary places we manage and protect. Today, the Homelands of the Borogegal, Birrabirragal, Cammeraygal, Gadigal, Gayamagal, Wallumedegal and Wangal Peoples host destinations under our stewardship. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging.

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