Every year, National Reconciliation Week (NRW) highlights why it’s important for all Australians to take action towards reconciliation – and this year's theme, "Be a voice for generations", is designed to reinforce that message. 

As well as events in the community between 27 May and 3 June, many schools take part in their own activities that focus on the shared histories and culture of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and how we can all contribute towards the goals of reconciliation. But it’s important to continue this learning at home – and as Kuku-Yalanji and Gumbaynggirr man and The Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation ambassador Jeremy Donovan says, your kids will likely be able to teach you a few things too! He and Wiradjuri and Ngunnawal woman Taylah Gray reflect on their experiences of NRW and offer suggestions on how you can make reconciliation part of your family’s everyday life.

Jeremy Donovan

Indigenous artist Jeremy Donovan explains how to talk to kids about National Reconciliation Week. 

An internationally renowned artist, Jeremy is also a celebrated didgeridoo player, speaker and father of four.  

What does National Reconciliation Week mean to you?

The themes for National Reconciliation Week are connected to ideas that are very important to us as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Reconciliation relies on being a living, breathing connection, a two-way sharing of [the culture of] Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people integrated in our society, and celebrating Aboriginal culture within Australian society so all Australians can feel proud of the culture.

Do you have a memorable National Reconciliation Week experience?

I’m normally really busy on National Reconciliation Week, travelling the length and breadth of the country at this time of the year, speaking, performing and painting at events. So while COVID derailed everything [in 2020], for the first time in probably 15 years, I was able to spend a Reconciliation Week with my kids (Jalu, 18; Matari, 15; Kaleema, 13 and Jakarri, 9). To be able to get back on country [in Far North Queensland] with my children and spend that time with them was so important. My kids are my world. I have a really privileged position where culture is at the forefront of everything that I do, so to be able to sit with my kids and impart that knowledge and education with them on such a significant week where I’m normally sharing that information with everyone else around the country was a true highlight.

What do you consider a good first step for getting young children to understand what reconciliation is and why it’s important?

Truth-telling is very important; that is, if we, as Australians and certainly the non-Indigenous Australians, can be brave enough to start telling the truth and not shy away from some of the horrific parts of this country’s history. There were huge mistakes in human judgement which have seen the devastation of Aboriginal culture in this country. We now have to protect what we have and maintain a connection and relationship to it. It’s really important that the conversation starts for children with the truth, and for parents to tell, where they have the knowledge, the hard truth of what was happening in this country from the time of its invasion. Don’t shy away from that truth. 

 The theme of this year’s National Reconciliation Week is ‘More Than a Word: Reconciliation Takes Action’. 
The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation 

How would you encourage parents to get their kids involved and contributing?

Literacy is so critical. As an ambassador for The Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation and someone who has struggled with literacy all my life, we are now in a privileged position in this country where there is incredible literature out and available in the mainstream. It’s not just about putting on a video and letting it do the work; take the time to sit down with your children, read these stories and educate them on some historic parts of Aboriginal culture.

How can parents incorporate reconciliation into everyday interactions with their kids?

Celebrating Indigenous authors, filmmakers, artists and general excellence at home is a really simple way of integrating it into your daily life with your kids. That in turn builds the path to reconciliation, educating the ignorant mind. While racism and prejudice are still part of the experience of Aboriginal people and minority groups not just here, but around the globe, we have the chance to educate the next generation, overcome the ignorance and change the minds and attitudes of many. 

SEE ALSO: Why Literacy Skills are Important: Mary-Ruth Mendel

Taylah Gray

First Nations advocate Taylah Gray tells why it’s important to talk to kids about National Reconciliation Week.

As well as being a lawyer, podcast host and PhD candidate at the University of Newcastle, Taylah is an advocate for First Nations people.

Why Is National Reconciliation Week Important?

When we think of National Reconciliation Week, we shouldn’t put a time limit on its occasion. National Reconciliation isn't just a week, it is active and we should have the mentality that it's an ongoing event until equity is achieved. Everybody in this country has a responsibility to make this a more just, equitable society and we can do that by mending the uneasy relationship between non-Indigenous people and First Nations people in Australia. We can do that by becoming more aware of the underlying prejudice that we all hold. Not only is this an individual effort, but it's a community effort and we must all take action.

Why is it important for parents to engage with their children on these topics early?

Children become our change makers. I hold children in very high regard because of that, and the values and principles of parents often go on to influence the decisions of their children, which then dictates the future of this country, for better or for worse.

What do you consider a good first step for understanding what reconciliation is?

Learning about the history of how this nation came about. Most importantly, read, read, read, read from an Indigenous perspective. A really good book to start with is Dark Emu, which also comes in the younger version Young Dark Emu. When you're having your conversations with children, tell them about all the great things. If we're going to mention all the atrocities that happened, make sure we talk about the good things that First Nations people contribute to this society as well. [Have] these discussions around the dinner table, and [learn] about the massacres that took place on the country you now live on and call home. Professor Lyndall Ryan does great work at my university, and you can click on a map to show people what happened there. These conversations shouldn't just come up around Reconciliation Week; it should be active and ongoing.

How else can parents engage with their kids on reconciliation every day?

Download the Map of Indigenous Australia and learn the country that you're on. We can remove an English word from our vocabulary and replace it with an Aboriginal word. The word for "hello" in Wiradjuri and Gamilaraay nation is "yaama", so when you greet people, say “yaama” instead of “hello”.

You could also learn a traditional First Nations game and teach your children how to play it and, most importantly, acknowledge why these games aren't practised so much these days. And cooking First Nations food – cook with our native foods and support First Nations-owned businesses where we can get these foods.

How would you recommend having these conversations, where your kids might ask challenging questions?

We shouldn't sugarcoat it. We should never, ever, sugarcoat difficult conversations because we must remember that First Nations children experience racism. If they can experience that, then non-Indigenous kids can learn about that racism as well. They are both hard conversations to have but we shouldn't shy away. We should be having these conversations because otherwise it just goes under the rug and once it's swept away, we can't fix it.

SEE ALSO: How Kids Can Make a Difference and Have a Meaningful Year

National Reconciliation Week Resources for You and Your Kids

To find events in your area, and further information from Reconciliation Australia

For kid-friendly history lessons and conversation starters

For things to watch, read, listen to and create with your kids

For things for parents to watch and read to help inform conversations with older kids

  • First Contact (Blackfella Films) is a docu-series where a group of non-Indigenous people are immersed in Indigenous communities (Rated M)
  • The Australian Dream (Passion Pictures/Good Thing Productions) focuses on AFL legend Adam Goodes and the racism he faced during his time in the game (Rated MA15+)
  • Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia, edited by Anita Heiss, offers a glimpse into the lives of Aboriginal people in our nation today 
  • Journalist Stan Grant’s works Talking to My Country and Australia Day are revealing and personal accounts.
  • Noel Pearson’s essay “A Rightful Place”, which appeared in the Quarterly Essay in 2014, provides a roadmap to reconciliation.

What to Try 

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Images courtesy of The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation, Jeremy Donovan and Taylah Gray.

This article was originally published in 2022 and has been updated.