News
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Darwin City Council acknowledges the Larrakia and their Land
Wednesday 27th January, 2010, was an historic day for the Larrakia, the people who are descendents of the original inhabitants of the Darwin region. On this day, for the first time, the Darwin City Council began their first meeting of 2010 with an acknowledgement of Larrakia and their land. From here on, instead of the Lord’s Prayer, all Councillors will open each Council meeting with the recital of a text developed in collaboration with representatives of the Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation.
The acknowledgment is as follows:
Acknowledgement of Country
“We the members of Darwin City Council acknowledge that we are meeting on Larrakia Country.
We pay our respects to all Larrakia people both past and present.
We are committed to working together with the Larrakia to care for this land and sea for our shared future.”
While these words represent a giant leap forward between Larrakia people and local government, the really exciting developments are yet to come as Darwin City Council representatives and staff work together with the Larrakia nation on joint collaborations including land management, arts projects, cultural heritage management and responses to homelessness on Larrakia land.
The Councillors with Larrakia elders Barbara Raymond (next to Mayor) and Mary Raymond (to her left) and the Chair of LNAC, Kathleen Williams-Browne (far left).
The Councillors are reciting the Acknowledgement to Larrakia and Larrakia Land. |
| Be part of the Grass Buddies movement
Larrakia Nation's H.E.A.L. program has just launched Grass Buddies. Grass Buddies is a social movement which aims to take a timely, strategic and coordinated approach to lobbying and advocating for positive changes in our community. As a Grass Buddy, you can also register to become a volunteer on any one of our programs. Please also take a look at the very first edition of our Grass Buddies newsletter by clicking on the following (471KB) link: |
Research newsOn Friday 27th November, the Larrakia Nation's Research Division released a paper entitled: An investigation into the influx of Indigenous 'visitors' to Darwin's Long Grass from remote NT communities to Darwin. Being Undesirable: law, health and life in Darwin's Long Grass. The paper was authored by Dr. Catherine Holmes and Dr. Eva McRae-Williams. Ms. Kellie Pollard, Ms. Tania Cooper, Mr. Joe Browne and Ms. Dorrie-Ann Raymond were involved in data collection. There has already been considerable interest in this work at a local, territory, national and international level. |
The Arts in the Grass exhibition entitled:Art from the Long Grass: Breaking the Stigma was launched at the Darwin Entertainment Centre on Friday 27th November. On display are 46 art works, of which 22 were sold on opening night. More than 150 guests came to view the lovely works, celebrate Larrakia Nation's Arts in the Grass initiative and meet the artists. The collection was created by Aboriginal people who are homeless, living in and around Darwin (locally known as staying in the Long Grass). Collectively, they are the most stigmatised and disadvantaged group in Darwin. Arts in the Grass aims to overcome stigma by creating opportunities for social inclusion and acceptance. About 25 artists attended opening night. There are still 24 art works available for purchase, so hurry before you miss out. The exhibition closes on Saturday 5th December, 2009. |
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Research News Larrakia Nation research associate, Ms. Kellie Pollard, has been awarded an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Indigenous Researcher Development Grant to assist her in an archaelogical investigation of contact sites in and around Darwin. Kellie will undertake this work over 3 years as a doctoral student at Flinders University and will graduate with a PhD. Kellie's research grant will allow her to: engage Larrakia as collaborative researchers; attend conferences with Larrakia researchers; to utilise specialists in the analysis of samples; and to undertake site surveys. Kellie has also secured a stipend for the duration of her studies. Congratulations - this award is an outstanding achievement! |
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