MORE than 50 people joined representatives of Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCH) and Interrelate during a recent Walk for Reconciliation.
The event was held during National Reconciliation Week, which runs annually from 27 May to 3 June.
The dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision.
Belinda Jackson, Aboriginal Health Promotion Officer with MNCH, said this was the third year the Walk had been held.
She said the Walk was undertaken in a spirit of reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.
Uncle Batty Hoskins, who conducted the Welcome to Country, said it was “great to see people coming together to get a better understanding of what has happened to our people since colonialisation”.
He related several examples of relatives being removed from families with no explanations.
Uncle Barry said he did not speak Gumbaynggirr as a child because very few people spoke it.
He said the last two initiated men from Nambucca sometimes came to Coffs Harbour but only spoke with adults.
He praised the work of Gumbaynggirr people who had the foresight to record the language to preserve it.
MNCH partnered with Interrelate to host the event and enhance community participation.
“We hope to encourage people to take stock and think about what reconciliation actually means,” said Jenna McBeth, Practice Lead at Interrelate.
By Andrew VIVIAN
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