Staff and students embraced the spirit of Reconciliation across all four campuses this week. Reconciliation Week, which is held from May 27 until June 3, was marked by Sea of Hands activities, cultural performances, an exhibition of traditional and contemporary artworks currently displayed at the QUT Art Museum, and important seminars and petitions around Stolen Wages.
In collaboration with the Oodgeroo Unit and the Student Guild, the Equity Section highlighted QUT’s continuing commitment to Reconciliation. QUT’s Reconciliation Statement, which was implemented in 2001, is the University’s key policy statement working towards a range of objectives.
These include Indigenous perspectives in the curriculum, greater participation by Indigenous staff and students in employment and study, community engagement, and other key activities.
Both staff and students have a key role to play in Reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. This year the Equity Section outlined 5 easy ways to get involved in Reconciliation including joining ANTAR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation), signing the Stolen Wages petition and buying a Reconcilation wristband. The sale of these $1 wristbands raised almost $900 for ANTAR. QUT was also privileged to have Dr Ros Kidd, a leading researcher into the Stolen Wages issue, speak during this week. Since 1997 Dr Kidd has been researching the government misappropriation of the wages of Indigenous Queenslanders between 1840 – 1988.
These wages were kept ‘in trust’ by the governments in Queensland and other states and never paid back to the workers. Current Federal and State governments continue to deny Indigenous people reasonable compensation for these losses.
Dr Kidd’s continuing research into the legal avenues for Indigenous people to recover these monies requires continued support from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Joining ANTAR is one way we can all assist in this fight. |
