Reconciliation Week Ways to Get Involved

"This story is not a pretty one” begins Sheila Humphries who, as a child, was taken from her parents and placed in an orphanage by authorities who thought they knew best. One voice of the stolen Generation, Sheila, with many other indigenous Australian children, suffered cruelty and neglect that has shaped her as an adult, for good and for ill. The effects are still writ large on Sheila’s life and it’s a part of Australian history we must never forget.

Australian Actor, writer, Aboriginal elder, former heroin addict, thief and prison inmate, Uncle Jack Charles has finally been allowed into prisons as a mentor to indigenous inmates and shares his inspiring journey. At the end of this short talk, Uncle Jack Charles is joined by Aboriginal elder and musician, Archie Roach for a performance of the song, We Won’t Cry.

Indigenous artist Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was one of the most important and acclaimed voices to ever come out of Australia. Blind from birth, he found purpose and meaning through songs and music inspired by his community and country on Elcho Island in far North East Arnhem Land. Living a traditional Yolngu life, his breakthrough album ‘Gurrumul’ brought him to a crossroads as audiences and artists around the world began to embrace his music. (Rent on youtube for $4.99)

Listen to Archie Roach’s iconic song 'They Took the Children Away'

Listen to the amazing reinterpretation by Gurrumul and Briggs 'The Children Came Back'

Listen to this playlist curated by the CSIRO to celebrate some amazing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians this National Reconciliation Week