Taking the Hand of Friendship
Abbey Sim reflects on engaging, listening deeply and continuing the conversation with Aboriginal Christian Leaders.
There are multiple ways to join together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across these lands now called Australia as we mark January 26th as a Day of Mourning, Survival Day, Invasion Day.
We are listing a number of online and in-person events below as a digest of events.
Please follow the instructions of Aboriginal Leaders along with your local public health orders to stay COVID safe as you participate, and:
Bring - a face mask, hand sanitiser, water, sunscreen, and hat
Maintain - social distancing
Don't come - if you feel sick, are required to self isolate, or have been in contact with COVID-19 in anyway
Make sure - to register your attendance if applicable and if advertised
Don't forget to #HearTheCall to #ChangeTheHeart on Tuesday 25th January
Blog Post: A Time to Listen
Rev Christine McPherson reflects on her church’s journey with #ChangeTheHeart and why they will be tuning in again in 2022.
ONLINE EVENTS:
Please see full messages from event organisers in Event Details in Facebook Event links below each event.
Yabun Festival 2022, from Gadigal Country
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 from 12pm-10pm AEDT
Hosted by Yabun Festival, Koori Radio 93.7FM and 3 others
Yabun Festival is an annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures held on the 26th of January in Sydney. 2022 marks 20 years of the Yabun Festival.
📺 - Tune into the Yabun Stage, Corroboree and Speak Out via the Yabun video livestream from anywhere in the world
📻 - Listen to the action directly on Koori Radio 93.7fm or via Koori Radio online/Koori Radio app
Survival Day Dawn Ceremony 2022 from Wadawurrung Country/Ballarat
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 from 5.30am AEDT
The Koorie Engagement Action Group (KEAG) invites you to join us for Ballarat’s Survival Day Dawn Ceremony.
Let’s come together and stand in solidarity to peacefully reflect on those who have gone before us.
For those unable to attend or wanting to watch from home, the event will again be live streamed - see link below:
Invasion Day Dawn Service 2022, from Naarm/Melbourne
Wednesday January 26th 2022 from 6.15am-7.15am AEDT
We acknowledge our Ancestors, Elders and Community that make up the 38 plus Nations of the colonial state of Victoria, and pay our respects to the many who have paved the way, past and present.
On the 26 of January 1938 a number of Elders called for a Day of Mourning, whilst a new nation celebrated nationalism and occupation.
The Victorian NAIDOC Committee are honoured to be invited by the Community, to ensure the continuation of the 'Invasion Day Dawn Service', upholding the legacy of our Ancestors, Elders and Community members who have called for a Day of Mourning since 1938. The voices of our old people have been overlooked and ignored for far too long.
The 2022 Invasion Day Dawn Service will be a virtual event, streamed across multiple channels from 6:15am AEDT. Victorian NAIDOC Committee has made the decision to move this event online to ensure the continued health and safety of our Elders, Community and allies.
"Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance (WAR) has decided to cancel the Invasion Day March in Melbourne. It would be careless to hold an event in the height of a pandemic and a virus that has taken ahold of so many in our community. We suggest you attend the Online Invasion Day Dawn Service (hosted by VicNAIDOC - links below) and Keep the fire burning "
Kaarla Circle 2022
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 1pm - 3pm AEDT
Host - Louise O'Reilly (Warrwa-Noongar woman)
Zoom details sent by event organisers upon registration
Online Invasion Day Rally 2022, from Lutruwita/Tasmania
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 from 11.45am-1pm AEDT
Hosted by Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre
Invasion Day Rally will be held online in order to keep our community and supporters safe from COVID. There is a great line up of speakers including Grace Tame - Current Australian of the Year, Jessica Munday - Secretary of Unions Tas, Richard Condie - Anglican Bishop of Tasmania, Uncle Jimmy Everett, and Rodney Gibbins - Aboriginal Activists and more.
The event will include a welcome to country, one minute silence to honour the Aboriginal lives lost during the invasion and a dance ceremony.
Annual Survival Day Ceremony, from Meeanjin/Brisbane
Wednesday, 26 January 2022, from
Event by Benerrawa Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Group
Due to rising COVID case numbers, this event has been shifted online. The video will be shared on the day from a previous ceremony, with an updated Welcome to Country.
Please see full message from organisers in Event Details in link below.
Survival Day 2022 (now online), Townsville QLD
Wednesday 26th January 2022, from 10am local time
Hosted by Big Eye Theatre
Due to current circumstances SURVIVAL DAY 2022 will now be Livestreamed. You can participate in a way that has never happened for our event of Survival Day. You will still be taken on a journey of past astrocities to a celebration of Dance Music Workshops Guest speakers Market stalls and Cooking demonstrations. Presented to you via a link we will put up on the day.
Online BELGRAVE SURVIVAL DAY 2022 - 15th ANNIVERSARY - SURVIVE & THRIVE
There will be online live streaming only from 11am - 1pm
A very special Survival Day event co-presented with our partners Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place.
This is a very personal and intimate event featuring special guests and performances. Please see full message from organisers in Event Details in link below, including YouTube link:
IN-PERSON EVENTS:
Please check/follow Facebook Events and Web pages for full details plus any entry requirements/conditions, and also for details of any last-minute changes or cancellations.
Make sure to register your attendance if applicable and if advertised, use the QR codes. See full details of events and messages from organisers in the Event Details/Discussion posts in links below.
ACT
CANBERRA, ACT
50th Anniversary Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Canberra, Ngambri Ngunnawal Country
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 at 10am local time
Aboriginal Tent Embassy, King George Terrace, Canberra
Hosted by Aboriginal Tent Embassy
During this year's 50th Anniversary, The Aboriginal Tent Embassy is holding a 3-day event from the 25th, 26th and 27th of January where we honour and mourn our past, celebrate our survival and strategise for the next 50 years.
(If you can't attend, Aboriginal Tent Embassy suggest joining the Online live feed all day from 11am AEDT on the 26th - see link below.)
Further Resources
Read Common Grace’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Coordinator Bianca Manning’s reflections on gathering at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy for #ChangeTheHeart 2019.
You can read a short history about the Aboriginal Tent Embassy here
NSW
SYDNEY, NSW
Invasion Day - Survival Day - Day of Mourning March Sydney 2022
From Sydney Town Hall
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 10:00am - 1:00pm AEDT
Hosts - FIIST, ASEN, ISJA Sydney
Stand with Aboriginal people on Invasion Day on Gadigal lands. Hear from families and campaigners who fight injustice everyday.
Rally Town Hall at 10am then March to Victoria Park via the historic Day of Mourning site on Elizabeth Street. Marking 50 years since the Aboriginal Tent Embassy was established.
Please see full message from organisers in Event Details in link below.
Yabun Festival 2022 - Victoria Park, Camperdown, Gadigal Country
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 from 12pm-10pm AEDT
Hosted by Yabun Festival, Koori Radio 93.7FM and 2 others
Yabun Festival is an annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures held on the 26th of January in Sydney. 2022 marks 20 years of the Yabun Festival. The festival will be held in person at Victoria Park, Broadway, and the Seymour Centre. It will also be livestreamed and broadcast on radio via Koori Radio 93.7 FM and the Koori Radio app.
There are 3 ways to get involved with the celebrations:
🧍 - Attend Yabun in person at Victoria Park, Broadway
📺 - Tune into the Yabun Stage, Corroboree and Speak Out via the Yabun video livestream from anywhere in the world
📻 - Listen to the action directly on Koori Radio 93.7fm or via Koori Radio online/Koori Radio app
NEWCASTLE, NSW
Day of Mourning - Newcastle - Customs House Hotel Fountain, Foreshore Park
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 10:00am - 5:00pm AEDT
Hosted by Justice Aunties
Mourn and celebrate the oldest living culture in the world. Mourn the loss of our Ancestors, discover some of Australia's oldest secrets and Shame. Hear some truth-telling and enjoy some Traditional Australian Culture this January 26th. With traditional smoking ceremony, welcome to country, Aboriginal Dancers, Speakers, musicians whilst we mourn the past, feel our pain and sorry business, then short march on from Customs House Hotel fountain to Nobby's beach whilst we release our sorrow and sing great Aboriginal Artists songs along the way. At Nobby's beach we will have market stalls, Aboriginal Artists performing on stage and more - ending around 5pm.
WEST WOLLONGONG, NSW
Invasion Day Bushcare - Gilmore Park, West Wollongong
26 January, 2022 9:00am - 11:00am AEDT
Hosted by Emmett Weatherford and Gilmore Park Bushcare
Commemorating Invasion Day with a bit of Bushcare. Anyone welcome who would like to mark the day by caring for Country to join us. Free event. Please use common sense, be COVID-safe, and stay home if you're feeling unwell. Please see discussion on Facebook Event page for location and more.
GRIFFITH, NSW
Griffith Survival Day 2022
Wednesday 26th January from 12-midday
Griffith Regional Aquatic and Leisure Centre, NSW
Hosted by Griffith Lalc in conjunction with Griffith City Council
Our first ever Survival Day - acknowledges the survival of the First Nations people of this country. It is an opportunity for everyone, no matter our diverse backgrounds, to come together to acknowledge this significant day in our country’s history. Join us for a free family day which will include free entry, bbq, music, art and craft activities and more.
Free bus shuttles will run on the hour from 11am in the Pioneer, Parkinson Cres and Three Ways vicinities.
Facebook Event
VIC
MORNINGTON PENINSULA, VIC
Our Survival Day - Reconnection
The Briars, 450 Nepean Highway, Mount Martha, Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 AT 12:00pm AEDT - 6:00pm AEDT
Hosted by Our Survival Day
Bringing together First Nations and Allies to join together to remember and participate in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture. This all Inclusive family event promotes First Nations Strength, passion and community.
Come along to this event, which is free for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (tickets via Eventbrite)
Belgrave Survival Day 2022
The "live" event at Borthwick Park, Melbourne has sadly been cancelled due to COVID-19. But there will be an Online event - see Online Event details above.
MILDURA, VIC
Mildura 2022 - Survival Day
Langtree Mall to Jaycee Park, Mildura
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 at 11:00am AEDT
Hosted by Sharon Johnson and Nada Winter
Mildura will be hosting its 3rd Survival Day in 2022 and will start from Langtree Mall and in a peaceful March walk from there to the river.
BALLARAT, VIC
Survival Day Dawn Ceremony 2022
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 from 5.30am AEDT
Wadawurrung Country. Viewpoint, Lake Wendouree, BALLARAT (opposite Lake View)
Hosted by Ballarat Koorie Engagement Action Group - KEAG
KEAG invites you to join us for Ballarat’s Survival Day Dawn Ceremony.
Let’s come together and stand in solidarity to peacefully reflect on those who have gone before us.
For those unable to attend or wanting to watch from home, the event will again be live streamed - link below:
QLD
BRISBANE, QLD
Brisbane Invasion Day Rally 2022
Queens Gardens, 144 George St, Brisbane
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 from 08:00 UTC+10
Hosted by Yuggera Peoples
Rally to begin at Queens Garden at 8am-9am local time then through to Musgrave Park for speeches, music, and food.
SA
ADELAIDE, SA
Survival Day 2022
Tarndanyangga, Victoria Square, Adelaide, South Side near the Old Fountain
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 at 12-midday, local time, to 4pm
Hosted by Natasha Wangasx Wanganeen
WA
PERTH, WA
Perth Invasion Day 2022
Forrest Chase, CBD, Boorloo/Perth
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 at 12pm, march starting at 2pm
Hosted by Marianne Yoorgabilya Mackay, Megan Krakouer and Mervyn Eades
Gather to speak about the true history of Australia day or invasion/survival day. Then at 2pm join a rally through the streets of Perth. Emceed by Megan Krakouer and Mervyn Eades with a variety of speakers and an appearance by Delly Stokes and Yabu band.
Birak Concert
Supreme Court Gardens, Cnr Barrack Street & Riverside Drive, Perth
Wednesday 26 January from 3pm-7.30pm
Hosted by City of Perth
Celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island cultures, the annual Birak Concert features WA talent, including a traditional Welcome to Country, Lilly Gogos, Flewnt, Pipeline Band and more along with community stalls, the Elders Marquee and Perth Heat. Bring a picnic blanket, sunscreen and hat to enjoy the event from day through to evening.
This free event will also be broadcast by Noongar Radio.
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FURTHER WAYS TO ENGAGE ON JANUARY 26 - COMMON GRACE
Commit to taking a stand for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice by sharing a photo of your feet on country and sharing an Acknowledgement of Country on social media here.
Wondering what else you can do on Jan 26? Brooke Prentis and Bianca Manning have put together this list of the best ways to engage in January 26th. Available here.
Church Resources available here.
