National Reconciliation Week 2022

By Marc Barnbaum

Three adults look at artwork in a large room. The artworks are very colourful, the walls are white, and there are timber floors.

Guests at the UQ Art Museum admire works by Indigenous artists. Left: Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori, Dingkarri, 2008; Banner on back wall: Gordon Hookey, WAM/Ethics, 2021.

Guests at the UQ Art Museum admire works by Indigenous artists. Left: Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori, Dingkarri, 2008; Banner on back wall: Gordon Hookey, WAM/Ethics, 2021.

Hundreds of UQ community members attended dozens of events across the University during National Reconciliation Week, from 27 May to 3 June. Together, they celebrated the 2022 theme: Be Brave. Make Change.

There was heartfelt interest in a five-year anniversary of the Uluru Statement from the Heart ‘Walk and Action’ event at the Anthropology Museum and in the Great Court at UQ's St Lucia campus.

A group of people walk together through the UQ Great Court, one man holds a sign at the front that says 'I accept the invitation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart'.

Uluru Statement from the Heart five-year anniversary Walk and Action.

Uluru Statement from the Heart five-year anniversary Walk and Action.

During National Reconciliation Week, 80 academics from around the world gathered at UQ’s Customs House for the Brisbane regional conference of the Native American Indigenous Studies Association (NAISA).

It was the first event of its kind hosted in Australia and complements other NAISA events being held this year in Mexico, the United States, Taiwan, Canada and Norway. NAISA is the largest scholarly organisation devoted to Critical Indigenous Studies.

Five people at an inside event smile at the camera, one of the women has cultural skin markings on her face.

Delegates from across the world at the NAISA Conference.

Delegates from across the world at the NAISA Conference.

UQ academics were also integral to the 2022 Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Summit held on the Sunshine Coast.

UQ's St John’s College arranged its Inaugural National Reconciliation Week lunch with a keynote address by reconciliation advocate, Indigenous leader and UQ alum Dr Jackie Huggins AM FAHA (Bachelor of Art (Hons) ’87, Doctor of the University of Queensland honoris causa ’06),.

Dr Huggins stands at a lectern with her hand raised, smiling. She stands in front of a colourful Indigenous artwork and there are native flowers in a vase in front of her.

Dr Jackie Huggins AM at UQ's St John's College.

Dr Jackie Huggins AM at UQ's St John's College.

Ang Bennett, the creator of Bindigenous Designs, conducted a Sip and Paint event, enabling participants to create their own Indigenous-styled artwork.

Four students hold up their own Indigenous-style artworks, Ang Bennett looks on smiling from behind. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags hang in the background.

Ang Bennett with students and their Indigenous-style artworks at a Sip and Paint event.

Ang Bennett with students and their Indigenous-style artworks at a Sip and Paint event.

The UQ Art Museum hosted sessions highlighting First Nations artists and a ‘You Can’t Ask That’ student panel, while the UQ Fryer Library hosted a launch for a new Language of Relationships Introductory Guide.

There was a timely Q&A with His Honour Nathan Jarro – Judge of the Queensland District Court and Queensland’s first Indigenous judge. His Honour discussed his career pathway, his experience practising law as well as the significance of law for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

A group of people stand smiling at the camera in a lecture theatre

The UQ Poche team enjoyed hearing His Honour Nathan Jarro’s account of growing up in Brisbane and the role models who influenced him to pursue a law career.

The UQ Poche team enjoyed hearing His Honour Nathan Jarro’s account of growing up in Brisbane and the role models who influenced him to pursue a law career.

A Cultures Connect networking event focussed on working with, and for, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Two Indigenous women smile at the camera, while wearing shirts that say 'We support The Uluru Statement'

National Reconciliation Coordinator for the Salvation Army and UQ alum Lucy Davis with UQ's Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) Professor Bronwyn Fredericks on the fifth anniversary of the gifting of the Uluru Statement from the Heart to the people of Australia.

National Reconciliation Coordinator for the Salvation Army and UQ alum Lucy Davis with UQ's Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) Professor Bronwyn Fredericks on the fifth anniversary of the gifting of the Uluru Statement from the Heart to the people of Australia.

UQ faculties and schools arranged National Reconciliation Week panel discussions, dialogue events and fresh writing initiatives.

The popular Murri Trivia event was hosted by the Goorie Berrimpa student association and SPIA (South Pacific Islander Association).

Online audiences were also catered for with a screening of In My Blood It Runs movie, a discussion of the 1967 Referendum (on Constitutional changes affecting Indigenous peoples), and a Blackwords Book Club session on Brother Moon.

Thank you to the UQ staff and community members who helped to make National Reconciliation Week 2022 a success.

Find out more about Indigenous initiatives across UQ, and how we are supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students by visiting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.

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