Hobsons Bay council will reaffirm its commitment to reconciliation with a program of events to mark 2025 National Reconciliation Week from May 27 to June 3.
This year’s theme is ‘Bridging Now to Next’ with all events held throughout the week celebrating the ongoing connection between past, present and future.
Among them will be a pair of workshops demonstrating traditional Indigenous weaving run by instructor Samantha Bennett.
A Bunurong Eoonwurung woman from Point Cook, Bennett will conduct the two weaving workshops on Saturday, May 31 at the Woods Street Arts Space in Laverton.
“It’s about Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people coming together, breaking down barriers and learning from each other and learning about decolonising practices,” said Bennett of the workshops.
“Because we’re always in the hustle and bustle of the colonised world, it’s just good to slow down and connect with each other in the way we would’ve come together pre-colonisation.”
The weaving workshops have space for up to 20 people at a time and Bennett said it was a privilege to pass on knowledge and help keep Indigenous culture alive.
“I love it that more and more people want to learn our old ways and that it’s still relevant today. And relevant for wellbeing as well.”
Other events across the week will include Indigenous meditation and movement sessions and a screening of “Murundak: Songs of Freedom“ in Newport and cultural awareness training in Brooklyn.
An exhibition featuring posters of previous National Reconciliation Weeks will also be on display at Hobsons Bay Civic Centre in Altona.
Later in June, the Williamstown Literary Festival will keep Indigenous history and culture on the agenda with prominent First Nations anthropologist and geographer Professor Marcia Langton AO to be joined by art historian Judith Ryan AM for a discussion titled: “65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art.“
Writer, historian and broadcaster Claire Wright and advocate Inala Cooper will also feature in the discussion: “From Yirrkala Bark Petitions to Treaty.”
Both events will be held at Williamstown Town Hall on June 21.
For more information about National Reconciliation Week in Hobsons Bay, visit: https://www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/nrw
