Uniting cultures and building bridges: Zoos and aquariums celebrate Australian Reconciliation Week

 

National Reconciliation Week is a time for Australians to learn about our shared histories and cultures, to strengthen relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous communities, for the benefit of all. Each year, the date remains the same, held between 27 May to 3 June to commemorate two significant milestones in Australia’s reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum and the High Court Mabo decision, which changed the legal rights of Aboriginal people, respectively.

This year, the 2023 theme is “Be a Voice for Generations” which honours generations of Australian changemakers who helped fight for justice and the generations to come, who will help tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation. Zoos and aquariums across Australia have embraced this theme and continue to provide opportunities for education and increased Aboriginal self-determination.

Caption: National Reconciliation Week 2023, Credit: Reconciliation Australia

 

On 3 April, Taronga Zoo's newest native wildlife experience: ‘Nura Diya Australia’ opened to the  public and offers a unique opportunity for guests to become a part of the landscape and forge lifelong connections with iconic species, including Dingoes, which have been returned to Taronga for the first time in 14 years. ‘Nura Diya’, derived from Sydney’s First Language means “This Country”, with the words gifted to Taronga Zoo through ongoing and meaningful consultation with Aboriginal communities, including the Taronga Aboriginal Advisory Group, Cammeraigal and Taronga’s First Nations staff.

The precinct is home to over 270 individual species, from 23 different species groups across bura nura (Kangaroo Country), gulamany nura (Koala Country), wuragal nura (Dingo Country) and the soon-to-be-completed nguwing yana [Sydney First Language translating to Night Walk], featuring a variety of nocturnal animals. Nura Diya brings together iconic Australian wildlife in state-of-the-art habitats, connects guests to Taronga’s crucial conservation work, embeds powerful storytelling from Aboriginal artists and leaves guests with an understanding of the role they play both within and for the environment.

The immersive experience launched with an Acknowledgement of Country by students currently completing a Skills Based Apprenticeships Training Program at Taronga and a performance by the Wagana Collective. The exhibit features two, 4.5-metre-tall Angophora Bark sculptures, created by Murri man; Jacob Nash to honor the Cammeraigal Country as well as Mother and child Hugger sculptures which are positioned along the Adventure Path encouraging guests to hug a tree, and in doing so connecting and appreciating trees and understanding the critical role they have for the health of this Country. It also includes the Ngununy nura (Food Country), a cultural garden created by the not-for-profit, social impact landscaping organisation Wildflower, who transformed an old colonial monkey exhibit into a decolonised edible and medicinal garden. 

Caption: Taronga Zoo ‘Nura Diya Australia’ immersive experience, Credit: Taronga Zoo Sydney

 

Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on sacred GuriNgai and Darkinyoong in the Calga Valley, just north of Sydney. In 2021, the Sanctuary carried out its first Cultural Burn since settlement, under the guidance of Traditional Fire Practitioner Den Barber from Yarrabin Cultural Connections.

After having to evacuate more than 200 animals during the 2020 Black Summer Bushfires, Sanctuary owner Tassin Barnard described the experience of Walkabout’s first cultural burn as: “Low flame creeping out in circles across the ground. Clean white smoke. No devastation. No fear. No firefighting. Just watching and yarning. Happy trees. Safe animals. Peaceful people. Immediately after the burn, the bush and wildlife are alive and healthy.”

The second of what is planned to be regular Cultural Burns is scheduled for the end of June 2023. Considering Traditional Custodians have been using fire to care for the Country for thousands of years - the 2021 burn began with a Welcome to Country by Tracey Howie, a direct descendant of Bungaree, and with a traditional Smoking Ceremony.

Partnering with Greater Sydney Local Land Services, the Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary brought 70 members of the local community together to learn about traditional burning. With 170 areas of native bushland, they aim to make this part of their regular land management practice for fire safety and care of Country. 

Caption (images above): Den Barber from Yarrabin Cultural Connections guides cultural burning on Country at Australian Walkabout Wildlife Park, Credit: Australian Walkabout Wildlife Park 

 

From 7 – 16 April, the Alice Springs Desert Park hosted ‘Parrtjima – A Festival in Light’ illuminate the  intergenerational wisdom told through light, installations, art, music, dance and digital performances in Aboriginal culture. The ten-night, interactive festival inspired by the artwork surrounding the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’ worked with artists to bring large-scale immersive light and sound installations in the red soil of Mparntwe (Alice Springs) on Arrernte country. Alice Spring Desert Park acknowledges the importance of the Arrernte language and interrelationships between plants, animals and people in their conservation work. There is a growing realization across the nation that Australia has something incredibly unique – the world’s oldest living, adaptive culture and Parrtjima is an invitation from our Traditional Custodians asking us to walk together and build a better future. 

 

Caption: 'Parrtjima - A Festival in Light' video, Credit: NT Major Events

Caption: ‘Parrtjima – A Festival in Light’ video, Credit: NT Major Events  

 

Zoos South Australia’s commitment to reconciliation acknowledges the deep and ongoing connection of Aboriginal  and Torres Strait Islander people to the Country: the land, waterways, sea, sky, and all that inhabit them. Their Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) serves as a foundation to strengthen this connection.

The first phase of the RAP, Reflect, included several noteworthy projects. One of these projects is the ongoing Aboriginal Learning on Country Program at Monarto Safari Park. Another project was the in-situ conservation program ‘Marna Banggara’ rewilding on the York Peninsula. The project overlooked the release of 80 bettongs in partnership with the Narungga Nation Aboriginal Corporation and with the support of Traditional Custodians, the Narungga people. Among them, 36 Brush-tailed bettongs were released in Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park and 44 Bettongs were reintroduced to Wedge Island, where the species had been extinct for over a century.

As Zoos SA progresses into the second phase of the RAP, Innovate, they will publish and look at the steps they can take as an organisation to deepen their connections with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. They will explore how they can layer reconciliation actions and beliefs throughout their policies, amplify the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and share positive stories of reconciliation with their audiences. To complement this phase, Zoos SA has commissioned a local artist to create a piece of work representing their conservation work and reconciliation journey.

Caption: Monarto Safari Park, Credit: Monarto Safari Park, Zoos SA

Caption: Brush-tailed bettong joey, Credit: Dr. Raphael Eisenhofer

 

Perth Zoo has launched a new collaborative workplace program with students from Clontarf Aboriginal  College, to allow eight students to work alongside zoo experts towards a Certificate II qualification in Conservation and Ecosystems Management. The students have been assigned a Perth Zoo coach, who, alongside a network of Perth Zoo animal carers, education officers and horticulturists support their learning journey.

Hon Reece Whitby, the Minister for Environment and Climate Action in Western Australia says:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Aboriginal students to gain vulnerable skills in Perth Zoo’s living classroom. Perth Zoo proudly sits on Whadjuk Noongar land, and this important program will encourage further cultural understanding. I look forward to seeing the students in action and watching their learning journey unfold."