Reconciliation Week is celebrated annually from 27 May to 3 June.
Reconciliation Week is celebrated annually from 27 May to 3 June and recognises the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and achievements. For 11 years the department has coordinated the Street Banner Project, displaying hundreds of banners, sponsored by organisations, in prominent locations across Western Australia.
With the support of a growing number of organisations and local governments this project offers a positive contribution towards reconciliation and provides the opportunity for your organisation or business to acknowledge the significant place of Aboriginal people and culture within our community.
"It’s good, painting. It’s relaxing. I like painting with my sister, Selena. We grew up together in Strelley. We grew up everywhere, everywhere." — Narlene Waddaman.
Narlene Waddaman is a Nyangumarta woman who lives and works in Kariyarra Country, South Hedland. The painting on the 2022 Reconciliation Week Street Banners depicts Ms Waddaman's mother's country which holds a place of significance for her both culturally and in her childhood memories. Ms Waddaman's older sister Tabarene Waddaman speaks of their upbringing:
“Mum and dad took us everywhere, Yandeyarra, to the stations. That’s how we grew up, stations and yandying tin in Marble Bar, we both know how to do it. I wish we had had a camera or something to record it at that time, but you know we was only kids then. We used to go fishing for river fish when we were at the stations, we got a lot of hunting, swimming, we had good fun you know, we had to think you know because there was no phones in those days just radio, listen to radio sometimes. Nanna used to take us hunting for goannas, yeah when we was in 3 Mile and everywhere. But when we were in 3 Mile, cause my nanna you know she’s a lady from the desert.”
Ms Waddaman works through Spinifex Hill Studio.
Bookings for 2022 have now closed. If you would like to join our mailing list for 2023, please email the banners team.
If you have any questions about this project, please contact:
The Banners Team Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural IndustriesEmail banners@dlgsc.wa.gov.au
The department thanks the following organisations for their support of this project in 2022.