Jingi walla! (means welcome or g’day, in Bundjalung language).

Today, May 27, marks the beginning of National Reconciliation Week 2020. 

Reconciliation starts with understanding and this year’s theme is ‘In this together’.

Here at The Lismore App, we take a moment to acknowledge the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of this land and encourage others to do so in their daily lives – at work and social gatherings - through Acknowledging Country at the beginnings of meetings, classes or gatherings. 

“We acknowledge the traditional Custodians of the Land on which we work and live - the Widjabal/Wiabal people of the Bundjalung Nation. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community and pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.”

Both a Welcome to Country (delivered by a Traditional Custodian of the land on which you stand) and an Acknowledgement of Country, recognise the continuing connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have to their land.

The practice of Acknowledging Country has been part of Indigenous cultures in Australia for thousands of years and is of great significance to many Indigenous people.

It's also a way we can bring more awareness to all Australians about the need to recognise the wrongs committed by white people to Aboriginal people through colonisation - and work towards reparation for the Traditional Owners of this country.

To learn more about how to write an Acknowledgement of Country, visit https://www.commonground.org.au/learn/acknowledgement-of-country

For more information about what’s happening for National Reconciliation week and what you can do, visit https://www.reconciliation.org.au/national-reconciliation-week/

Read about Lismore born Bundjalung artist Oral Roberts on The Lismore App: Bundjalung artist Oral Roberts' art chosen for new Pacific Highway