Supporting our First Nations Communities
Goldfields Library Corporation acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land and waterways of our region. We recognise their living cultures and ongoing connection to Country and pay respect to their Elders past and present.
NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each year and give all Australians the opportunity to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the oldest continuing cultures on the planet.
In 2020, we celebrated the theme of ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’ with some very special online sessions.
Read more about how we celebrated NAIDOC Week in 2020, and access our online sessions.
Local Dja Dja Wurrung Information
These two short videos provide information about local Dja Dja Wurrung country
Dja Dja Wurrung Conservation Walking Together
Connecting with Culture on Dja Dja Wurrung Country Resource Kit
Created by Communities for Children Bendigo and Noah’s Ark Inc.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiRd1wAxen0&feature=youtu.be
Condemning violence against First Nations peoples
Goldfields Libraries condemns racism and stands in solidarity with the international community in condemning violence and racism against people of colour. We acknowledge Australia’s history of violence against its First Nations people, who have experienced, and continue to experience, systemic discrimination and disadvantage.
Goldfields Library Corporation is actively working to build cultural literacy in our own staff and organisation. We seek to eradicate racism by developing library services that are equitable, culturally aware, and build cultural literacy and a deeper understanding of Australian History for all who live in our region and beyond. We as an organisation are continuing to learn and grow. We have provided some resources below to assist you in also being a lifelong learner.
Goldfields Library Corporation acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land and waterways of our region. We recognise their living cultures and ongoing connection to Country, and pay respect to their Elders past and present.
Steps we are taking to this end:
- We Acknowledge Country at all of our meetings, programs and events, and on all our communications
- We are following the recommendations of an Indigenous Cultural Audit of our libraries by Simon Penrose, Koorie Engagement Support Officer at the Department of Education, Bendigo
- We are partnering with our member Councils to engage community and deliver on their Reconciliation Action Plans
- Programming regular events which highlight the contributions of our First Nations people.
- EOI’s out for original works of art for a number of our libraries
- Development of local Aboriginal art and signage for all our libraries
- Developing locally designed Acknowledgment of Country plaques
- Developing reader advisory services for books and other collections to support cultural literacy development for all ages
- Continuing to develop and support spaces, collections, programs and events which build understanding and celebration of our indigenous cultural heritage and local aboriginal community
- Continuing staff development around cultural awareness and service provision
Recommended reading
Online reading
- Black Lives matter; We matter
- 10 Documentaries To Watch About Race Instead Of Asking A Person Of Colour To Explain Things For You
- Here are the practical ways you can support Aboriginal Lives Matter
- People ask me how they can support Black Lives Matter. At the moment all I can feel is sadness and grief
Staff top picks
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Adult Non-Fiction
Adult Fiction
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Junior Non Fiction
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Junior Fiction
Dingo's tree, written and illustrated by Gladys Milroy and Jill Milroy |
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Picture Books
Documentary DVD
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Young Adult Fiction
Catching Teller Crow, Ambelin Kwaymullina & Ezekiel Kwaymullina |
Terra nullius, Claire G. Coleman
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eBooks
Tell me why: The story of my life and my music, Archie Roach |
The Intervention: An anthology, edited by Rosie Scott and Anita Heiss |
AudioBooks