Page 4725 - Week 13 - Thursday, 28 November 2019
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Canberra. This is the work, as Minister Rattenbury has said, that enables us to greet one another with “yuma” and to acknowledge country in language, as the Chief Minister has recently been doing and as we are proposing to do in this motion. It is only through rediscovering and revitalising this language that we will be able to use it with one another, and, of course, with the first nations people of this land, who own that language, who own that culture, who own that law and who so generously share it with us.
The ACT government also administers the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural grants, to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in celebrating, strengthening and promoting cultural heritage. Recipients of cultural grants include the creation of a Ngunnawal education kit rolled out to early learning centres throughout Canberra, teaching children about Ngunnawal culture.
While work is underway to revitalise and strengthen Ngunnawal language in the ACT, there is absolutely more to do. This seemingly small change in the way this place operates will be an important statement and a reminder for all of us here and the wider ACT community of the importance of language to the Ngunnawal people and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is a symbol of what we can all do as Australians to do our bit in strengthening and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and cultures, as part of our ongoing journey of reconciliation. It is a reminder that the land we walk on always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.
The Uluru statement from the heart outlines a generous vision of walking together for a shared future. This can only be done by recognising the impact of colonisation across our society; and, yes, that means in our parliaments. The Ngunnawal community have also reached out the hand of friendship and reconciliation, as they do each time a member of the community, an elder, welcomes us to country, as so often happens at so many events. Each time it is touching and thought provoking to be reminded that we are walking on land that has been cared for, that has been an important meeting place, that has been part of Ngunnawal people for tens of thousands of years.
This change that we are proposing today is another step towards that recognition here in our parliament. Incorporating the traditions, language and conventions of this country, Ngunnawal country, in how the Assembly operates will strengthen this place and will be a further reminder to each of us of our responsibilities to the first peoples of this beautiful place that we call home each and every day.
MR MILLIGAN (Yerrabi) (10.50): I would like, firstly, to thank Mr Rattenbury for bringing forward this motion and, of course, Minister Stephen-Smith for confirming her support for this motion today as well.
I would like to acknowledge Aunty Caroline Hughes, who is here today, the chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, Katrina Fanning, other members of the elected body who are here today and all other local Ngunnawal community members who are also here.
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