Celebrating Aboriginal Culture

In February, Council committed to the creation of an Aboriginal Cultural Centre, in line with the "Eora Journey" project envisaged in Sustainable Sydney 2030 to celebrate Indigenous culture. Eora Journey will create an internationally significant story telling corridor extending from a meeting place in Redfern, through Prince Alfred Park and Hyde Park to Mrs Macquarie's Chair.

During consultations on Sustainable Sydney 2030, we interviewed over 200 people from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and 12 Indigenous community leaders attended the City's 2030 Roundtable. Participants focused on the need for recognition and celebration of Indigenous identity and culture, which could be achieved through the Aboriginal Cultural Centre.

To begin developing the Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Council this month resolved to form an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Panel and an internal project Working Group.

The Working Group will be made up of two Councillors, five City officers and two external members with expertise to help us progress the Eora Journey and Aboriginal Cultural Centre projects.

The Advisory Panel will provide Council with input for these exciting projects as well as a wide range of issues impacting on our Indigenous communities-cultural activities and events, training and employment, business development, recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage in the public domain, and the City's policies and protocols.

The City will soon call for nominations for Indigenous members on the Advisory Panel, which will include two Aboriginal elders; two Aboriginal young people under 25 years; six Aboriginal community representatives; three City officers; and Independent Councillor Marcelle Hoff as co-Chair. The members will also elect an Aboriginal co-chair at the inaugural meeting later this year.

For more Information: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Council/documents/meetings/2008/Council/020608/080602_COUNCIL_ITEM08.pdf