First Nations | Goldfields Library Corporation

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.

Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week (27 May-3 June) is 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.

Reconciliation must live in the hearts and actions of All Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian Community, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

To mark National Reconciliation Week 2021, Bendigo Library will be honoured back to Country by Elders of the Dja Dja Wurrung Peoples. A Welcome to Country ceremony will be followed by a screening of the short documentary, Ringtone, our contribution to the Central Victorian Indigenous Film Festival. In Castlemaine, we'll have a First Nations themed Storytime session on Friday 28 May, and a special Toddler Time session with Aunty Kerri Douglas on Monday 31 May. We also welcome everyone to contribute a written intention for action towards reconciliation in 2021 to our Reconciliation Tree, to show your support for our First Nations Peoples.

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

Bendigo Creek Story

Connecting with Culture on Dja Dja Wurrung Country Resource Kit

Created by Communities for Children Bendigo and Noah’s Ark Inc.

Resource kit available here.

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.

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