First Nations | Goldfields Library Corporation

Respecting First Nations Peoples and Culture

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 Action Plan (RAP)

Goldfields Libraries has identified the acknowledgement and celebration of First Nations Peoples as a priority for our organisation. This has been reflected in the 2021-2025 Goldfields Libraries Strategy. As a public library service, we value the importance of being a safe, welcoming and inclusive community space. For the First Nations People of this country, we respect the focussed approach that will be required from us to achieve this.

We are proud to announce our collaboration with Reconciliation Australia in developing our Inaugural Reflect RAP. By working through this plan, we aim to deepen our connection with First Nations cultures, peoples and perspectives by continually educating our staff, reshaping our approach to library services and supporting the public library sector.

Please read our Reconciliation Action Plan here.

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.

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.

The Bendigo Possum Skin Cloaks Project

Bendigo Library is proudly home to three Possum Skin Cloaks. Created as part of the Possum Skin Cloaks Project in 2015, the cloaks range in size and include imagery representing and respecting the Local Aboriginal Nation, The Dja Dja Wurrung, and the Creator Spirit of the land – Bunjil.

Local First Nations Information

Below is a list of the Traditional Owners in the Goldfields Libraries region. The reach of these Traditional Owners is beyond just our libraries listed below. For more information on each, please click on them.

Dja Dja Wurrung

The Dja Dja Wurrung people are the Traditional Owners in the following areas: Axedale, Bendigo, Castlemaine, Dingee, Eaglehawk, Elmore, Inglewood, Kangaroo Flat, Kyneton, Tarnagulla, Wedderburn and Woodend

Taungurung

The Taungurung people are the Traditional Owners in Axedale, Elmore, Heathcote and Kyneton

Barapa Barapa

The Barapa Barapa people are the Traditional Owners in Boort and Pyramid Hill.

Wurundjeri

The Wurundjeri people are the Traditional Owners in Gisborne and Romsey.

More resources and useful information

Dja Dja Wurrung conservation walk and Bendigo Creek story

Connecting with Culture on Dja Dja Wurrung Country Resource Kit

The 2023 Indigenous Voice Referendum - resources and information

The meaning of Smoking Ceremonies

The Bringing Them Home Report (1997)

Apology to Australian Indigenous Peoples (the Stolen Generation)

National Apology - National Museum of Australia

Wurundjeri Walking Tours

Taungurung Culture

Reconciliation Victoria

Registered Aboriginal Parties

City of Greater Bendigo Reconciliation Plan 2021-2025

Macedon Ranges Shire Council Reconciliation Action Plan

Mount Alexander Shire Council Reconciliation Plan 2020-2023

Loddon Shire Reconciliation Action Plan

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