Elly MacKay, Senior Communications Coordinator, Media and Communications. asked these questions to Alison and The Wrap is sharing Alison's responses with you.
What does Reconciliation Day mean to you?
Gosh, many things. First, it means unfinished business that hangs in the air in Australia without a Treaty and without adequate truth-telling. Second, as the Elders from the lands of the Eastern Wiradyuri peoples (Bathurst) have taught me, it requires acknowledging that the language of ‘reconciliation’ is contentious. Third, as Anita Heiss says, too often the heavy-lifting of reconciliation is left to Aboriginal people, so it means making sure I take action in recognising this significant week and Sorry Day that precedes it, and recommit to working for social justice every week. Finally, it is an excellent opportunity to catch up with First Nations staff at UC, and our industry and community partners. I enjoy going to the Arboretum on the 31st and this year we are seeing Adam Briggs at the Reconciliation concert at Canberra theatre with my wife and two kids – can’t wait!
Why is it so important that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have days such as Reconciliation Day dedicated to their culture?
I understand Reconciliation Day as different to this framing. If you look at the Reconciliation website, reconciliation week is defined as ‘a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia’. So not only about ‘cultures’ and culture is not monocultural, so many cultures. And everyone has culture. People generally like learning about cultures, it is exciting. And part of building Indigenous cultural competence in staff and students is about understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. It is one part of it, alongside understanding histories and contemporary social realities and cultural protocols – and action, all important parts of a complex puzzle. As a lawyer, I like UC’s embrace of Ngunnawal ‘lore’ or philosophy in our values. UC is committed to the Ngunnawal philosophy of Galambany, which makes me proud to work at UC. Reconciliation is ‘core business’ for everyone everyday, not just on this day. Our family seek to live by the Wiradyuri philosophy of Yindyamarra – to be patient, gentle, kind, polite and to respect your Elders. A five-element philosophy that we have embraced as a family (or try to! I’m not great with patience!).
Finally, Reconciliation is important as we have A LOT of unfinished business and we all stand to benefit from reconciling with Australia’s past and ensuring we respect and privilege the oldest continuing cultures in the world.
What do you hope is an outcome of Reconciliation Day – both now and in the future?
I hope that more people connect, listen deeply, share knowledges and, critically, take action to be brave and make reconciliation ‘core business’ in individual and structural ways.
What is something that you’d like people to know about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture?
My wife and I were married in a traditional Wiradyuri marriage ceremony and one of the first legal same-sex marriages in Australia, on top of Wahluu (Mount Panorama) in 2017. It was pretty cool. Sophie and I walked with one of the Elders to choose the location and it was amazing how we listened to Country and found the perfect location in an opening marked by trees like a gateway. We could see a 360 view and songlines to Sydney. It was conducted by Elders and we got to shake water from the ‘Wambool’ (Macquarie River) on new gum tree shoots on our guests. It was such a generous and special moment we will never forget. We felt very lucky. I think that’s why Yindyamarra as a philosophy has had such an influence on us and our family.
This year’s theme is ‘Be Brave, Make Change’ – what are you doing to make change in this space?
As the head of the Canberra Law School, my challenge is to ensure that our graduates understand that legal systems existed before and after 1788 and continue to be learned, shared and practiced to this day. My role is to take action to embed Indigenous cultures, histories and contemporary social realities in our curriculum, to privilege Indigenous peoples in our governance structures and the classroom, to develop a workplace that attracts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees and to foster cultural safety for Indigenous staff and students as cultural safety benefits everyone. My role is to develop community and industry partnerships so that our Law School is distinguished as one that builds relationships and fosters engagement and commits to reciprocity in actions and not just words.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I would add that connecting to place has immense benefits for wellbeing! For me that has been one of the best benefits of learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
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