Dear colleague,

National Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May to 3 June, and offers a great opportunity to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their cultures. It also prompts us to consider some of the landmark events in the ongoing process of reconciliation. 

Artist: Oodgeroo Noonuccal. Reprinted with permission of John Wiley and Sons Australia

National Reconciliation Week 2016

The theme of National Reconciliation Week 2016 is Our History, Our Story, Our Future.

Our History urges us to consider the consequences of Australian laws, practices and policies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It seeks a commitment to ensure that past wrongs are not repeated.

Our Story is about the importance of the struggle for reconciliation in Australian history and identity. It recounts the 'trauma and triumph told by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples'*.

Our Future emphasises the need for all Australians to share a genuine commitment to reconciliation and the principles of fairness and diversity.

*National Reconciliation Week website http://www.reconciliation.org.au/nrw/what-is-nrw/

Suggested Resources

Early Years

My Place: The apology
In this clip from My Place, members of a local Indigenous community watch Prime Minister Rudd's Apology to the Stolen Generations.

The video is accompanied by suggested activities and related videos. My Place for Teachers is an outstanding resource for the study of reconciliation.

Middle Years

The Apology to the Stolen Generations
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd explains the need to say sorry to the Stolen Generations. In his speech, Mr Rudd tells the story of Nanna Nungala Fejo, who was taken from her family in Tenant Creek in 1932.

This clip is one of six that make up the Apology to Stolen Generations. They can all be found on Scootle.

Upper Years

National Sorry Day
This comprehensive digibook from ABC Splash presents some of the history of reconciliation. Using video clips and images, the resource explores Prime Minister Keating's Redfern speech, the Apology to the Stolen Generations, and the ongoing struggle for the recognition of Indigenous sovereignty. 

Learning Path

What's New in Scootle?
The Australian Ballet has released a series of teaching and learning resources for primary and secondary classrooms in their EduHub.
Our learning path includes six resources that provide teaching and learning materials for classroom use.

Watch This

National Reconciliation Week
The National Reconciliation Week website provides invaluable information about the history and purpose of National Reconciliation Week, along with great resources and suggestions for getting involved.

Mobile App

Sustainable Seafood Guide
World Oceans Day is on Wednesday, 8 June. The  Sustainable Seafood Guide helps us make seafood choices that won't deplete the oceans of threatened and over-harvested fish species. There is both an iTunes and an Android version.

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