National Reconciliation Week will be celebrated in the Redlands with an entertaining short-film festival at the Cleveland library.
The free showcase of indigenous culture will run daily at 10am, noon and 2pm throughout National Reconciliation Week from Tuesday 27 May to Tuesday 3 June.
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the week was a reminder of the important role Aboriginal culture played in the Redlands.
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“The Quandamooka people are the original inhabitants of what we today call the Redlands and it is incumbent on us all to recognise that and respect their culture, traditions and contributions,’’ Cr Williams said.
“This is something we should reflect on throughout the year, not just during our National Reconciliation Week celebrations.
“The week, however, offers a great opportunity to learn more about indigenous life and culture and I hope our short-film festival will help residents do that in an entertaining and interesting way.’’
A festival highlight will be Dennis Simmons’ Ace of Spades, based on an Aboriginal folklore story that is known throughout West Australia’s Nyoongar country.
In this contemporary retelling of the tale, two young filmmakers travel to a rural mission town to discover the truth behind the story of the Ace of Spades.
For some song and dance, check out Blackbuster, a delightful romance centred on a bashful teenage boy and a publican’s daughter. Written and directed by S. F. Tusa, a filmmaker of Torres Strait Islander/Samoan descent, it is set in a crazy Queensland pub.
The festival also includes Yolngu Guya Djamamirr, The Caretaker, Who Paintin’ dis Wandjina? and Aunty Maggie and the Womba Wakgun.
All the films are rated G or PG. Call the library on 3829 8770 for more details.
You also can join Quandamooka Dreaming’s Sandra Delaney from 11.30am on Sunday 1 June at Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland, for a talk about her new book, which is loaded with Dreamtime tales and stunning art.
Dates to celebrate
26 May
National Sorry Day: This day is commemorated each year since 1998 to acknowledge the Stolen Generations, indigenous Australians who were forcibly removed from their families and communities. Information: www.nsdc.org.au.
27 May – National Reconciliation Week: National Reconciliation Week, which continues to 3 June, celebrates the rich culture and history of the first Australians. Information: www.reconciliation.org.au. The opening day on 27 May also marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum where Australians voted overwhelmingly to amend the Constitution to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
3 June – Mabo Day: The High Court, in a historic judgement delivered on June 3, 1992, accepted the claim from Eddie Mabo and the other claimants that their people had occupied the island of Mer before the arrival of the British. Information: www.mabonativetitle.com
4 July – Native Title: The anniversary of the rulings giving the Quandamooka people land rights over more than 98 per cent of North Stradbroke Island. The native title agreement acknowledges the Quandamooka people as traditional owners of North Stradbroke, Peel, Goat, Bird, Stingaree and Crab islands and surrounding waters of Moreton Bay.
