Our course “Shaping our history together, a narrative to stop racism” concluded last week with a cultural walk at Mt Dharrengower (Mt Tarrangower) with Dja Dja Wurrung elder, Aunty Marilyne Nicholls. The 9 weeks course came as a response to the Statement from the Heart, where Traditional Owners across the country, are seeking a Makarrata Commission to supervise the agreement making process between government and First Nations and truth-telling about their history (Statement from the Heart, 2017).
During their weekly sessions with Aunty Marilyne and other Dja Dja Wurrung representatives, the participants learnt about the importance of our local Indigenous culture, our common history since colonisation and talked about ways to reduce racism in our community.
We would like to send many thanks to Aunty Marilyne Nicholls for sharing her precious time with us, helping us understand and heal our common humanity for a better future. Also, many thanks to the people who participated in this pilot program. We are hoping to run a similar project next year so please send your expression of interest at eedubuctimson@gmail.com or through our website at mirawara.org.