Reconciliation SA Welcome to the Reconciliation SA column

Professor Buckskin is a Narungga man from the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. In December 2019 Professor Buckskin retired from the position as Dean: Aboriginal Engagement and Strategic Projects at the University of South Australia. He has continued his association with the University as an Adjunct Professor to the Education Futures Portfolio. As an educator and professional bureaucrat for nearly 40 years, Professor Buckskin’s passion has been the pursuit of educational excellence for Aboriginal peoples.

The news was announced at the Annual General Meeting on 24 November.

Also at the AGM, Nicole Clinch and Jane Crosby were announced as the newly elected Board Directors.

Nicole Clinch is a Badimia/Yamatji woman who was born and raised on Kaurna land. She has 12 years experience in Aboriginal Health and has a Certificate IV in Indigenous Research Capacity Building, an Associate Degree in Indigenous Community Health and is currently studying a Bachelor of Public Health at the University of South Australia.

Jane Crosby comes with a wealth of experience in strategy and governance and was the Project Manager for Tarnathi Art Fair from 2017–2021, in which time attendances and sales increased substantially. Jane also developed the Art Gallery of SA’s inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan.

Reconciliation Australia recently released the 2022 Reconciliation Barometer.

One of the key findings of the report is that 60% of First Nations people have experienced racism in the last six months, a figure that has unfortunately grown from 52% in 2020 and 43% in 2018. This indicates a steady rise over the last six years.

It also found that 93% of people of the general population believe that First Nations people should be able to have a say in things that affect them. Similarly, 86% of the general population believe it is important to establish a representative First Nations body, and a slightly higher percentage believe that body should be placed in the constitution so that it cannot be removed.

For more information, visit the Reconciliation Australia website: www.reconciliation.org.au

Around this time in previous years, we would be launching the ticket sales for our Apology to the Stolen Generations commemoration breakfast.

However, in 2022, the breakfast was cancelled due to covid and over the course of a few weeks, Reconciliation SA produced a commemoration video which premiered online to a positive response.

As such, the decision was made that Reconciliation SA would continue to create commemorative videos to premiere online for free to ensure we have maximum accessibility.

This year, we are focusing on interviewing Stolen Generations survivors and descendants from the Ngarrindjeri nation, with the intention of moving around each year to speak with as many communities as we can.

Keep a look out on our social media for more announcements.

The theme for the 2023 National Reconciliation Week has been announced: Be a Voice for Generations. This theme encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work and socialise.

For the work of generations past, and the benefit of generations future, act today for a more just, equitable and reconciled country for all.