FOR a fourth year, Ballarat\u2019s Koorie Engagement Action Group are leading a Survival Day Dawn Service.<\/p>\n
Set for View Point beside Lake Wendouree from 5.30am on Thursday, 26 January, the event is an opportunity to remember and mourn Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who fought in the frontier wars and died as a result of colonisation since 1788.<\/p>\n
KEAG member and Meriam woman Deb Lowah Clark said it\u2019s a chance for everyone to come together to share and learn, and the choice to use the word survival acknowledges intergenerational trauma continues for many First Nations Peoples.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means something exists or continues on, despite something that\u2019s happened. In this case, we\u2019re talking about settlement and colonisation,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough the most difficult time that we have recollection of in the history of our peoples\u2019 story, this has created such a huge valley that had to be walked through.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we\u2019re doing is righting the reality that our history is a lot longer than… when Captain Cook came, or when Arthur Phillip came… Once you know, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alongside speeches and performances attendees will have the chance to take part in a smoking ceremony.<\/p>\n
\u201cFeedback in the last few years has been that it\u2019s the first time many people have seen a smoking ceremony, they\u2019ve never had it explained to them,\u201d said KEAG co-chair and Narungga woman Sarah Jane Hall.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor non-Indigenous people to be involved in that as well is a beautiful thing to witness, and see many cultures come together, have shared emotions, feelings and sit with that for the day.\u201d<\/p>\n
KEAG co-chair, City of Ballarat\u2019s Cr Belinda Coates, said she was proud of the municipality for being one of the first regional and rural local government areas in Australia to host a ceremony of this kind.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been having really important discussions locally about the fact that January 26 is a significant day of mourning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone who comes along, whether they\u2019re non-Indigenous, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, have found the experience really profound.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a great opportunity to show solidarity… and to learn and deepen cultural knowledge, understanding and empathy, and it\u2019s been really interesting to see how the conversations are evolving across Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Lowah Clark acknowledged the recent passing of local elder and Gunditjmara woman Diana Nikkelson, who was the face of the service in previous years. Ms Nikkelson\u2019s daughter Nikki Foy continues to be a key member of KEAG.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FOR a fourth year, Ballarat\u2019s Koorie Engagement Action Group are leading a Survival Day Dawn Service. Set for View Point beside Lake Wendouree from 5.30am on Thursday, 26 January, the event is an opportunity to remember and mourn Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who fought in the frontier wars and died as a result […]<\/p>\n