Geelong: Reconciliation in the Park
Established by Aboriginal community leaders with One Fire in 2010, this is Geelong's annual Aboriginal community-led National Reconciliation Week event. By listening to and learning from local Aboriginal people we strengthen all of community on Wadawurrung Country.
With partners, we won the Victorian 2016 Community HART Award for this free event. This 15th year’s event will be at Johnstone Park on Sunday 2nd June, 2024.
Djillong Project - www.djillong.net.au
Initially created with the late Uncle David Tournier this website and timeline about Djillong: a tongue of land, connects us all to history and story on Wadawurrung Country. It incorporates Aboriginal leaders telling their stories - Djillong: Our History, Our Story, Our Future. Contact One Fire if you would like to purchase the timeline banner.
Geelong Council Advisory Committees
One Fire has been represented on the Heritage and Kilangitj Aboriginal Advisory Committees. On Kilangitj we sat alongside local Aboriginal community members and agencies. Council adopted a Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan in 2020. Community conversations about 26 January over six months in 2023 were inclusive, resulting in proposals for truth telling on this date. One Fire members look forward to the next steps.
One Fire Members Learning Together
One Fire members learn together with Wadawurrung and other First Nations community educators through conversations and time on Country. This strengthens our knowledge and capacity to engage the non-Indigenous communities of Geelong as more effective allies to First Nations people on Wadawurrung Country.
Backing Aboriginal Peoples’ Leadership & Self-determination - partnering
One Fire partners with local organisations. This includes building young people's reconciliation leadership through the Wangala Balit Ngarrwa - making knowledge strong project. This annual day of workshops with Year 5-aged students is provided through a partnership with the Koorie Engagement Support team, Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Aboriginal Corporation and Geelong Regional Libraries Service. The project builds young people’s reconciliation initiatives through their schools, homes and communities.
Reconciliation Victoria - www.reconciliationvic.org.au
One Fire is a member of Reconciliation Victoria, and receives important ongoing information, and guidance from the Cultural Council of First Peoples for our local activities.
In 2023 we partnered with Reconciliation Victoria for Voice Referendum conversations in Geelong, in support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
January 26
Reconciliation Victoria supports a continuing national conversation about shifting our national day from January 26, and acting on the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
One Fire is committed to truth telling and the growth of knowledge about the impacts of colonisation on First Nations Peoples on these sovereign lands, including on Wadawurrung Country. This is, we believe, a necessary journey to a society we can all celebrate.
First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria - www.firstpeoplesvic.org/
“Treaty is our opportunity to tackle the racist legacies of invasion and create a better future together as equals.”
The Assembly is preparing to commence actual negotiations with the Government about the statewide Treaty. It will also continue to support the various Traditional Owner groups to negotiate Treaties that reflect the aspirations and priorities in their areas.
Yoo-rrook Justice Commission - https://yoorrookjusticecommission.org.au/
The Commission mandate is to reveal, record and analyse the systemic injustices experienced by the First Peoples of Victoria since colonisation.
Allies: “we’d still love your company on the journey, so please become an ally by signing up to Team Treaty to receive updates and information about how you can help”.
Uluru Statement from the Heart - https://ulurustatement.org/ & https://fromtheheart.com.au/
One Fire believe that our local activities are deeply interconnected with national reconciliation, or reckoning, progress.
Whilst the 2023 referendum to establish a First Nations Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Constitution was not successful, we continue to support the Statement’s intentions.