- by Che Janz
- The Guardian
- Issue #2108
This year I attended a public flag raising event in Nambour as part of NAIDOC week. Various dignitaries where there, including local Indigenous Elders, and the Mayor of the Sunny Coast, Rosanna Natoli.
Talking to Indigenous people and supporters, the main view was that the Gubbi Gubbi/Kabi Kabi land title victory is significant, but more focus is needed on other traditional owners of the land who don’t have such representation on the Sunshine Coast especially the Jinibara people. Attendees also felt that more needs to be done for the Torres Strait Islander peoples.
After the discussions, the beginning of the ceremony began with some beautiful and iconic Indigenous music from a local Gubbi Gubbi/Kabi Kabi performer, with stories telling of harvesting Bunya nuts and respectful tributes to elders of the past. A young girl also spoke about how passionate she is to be a member of her mob.
Mayor Natoli gave a run-down of the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). She also described how Land title recognition affirms that the Gubbi Gubbi people have always been caring for the land, so the Sunshine Council will have direct input from Indigenous bodies regarding future developments.
The speech sounded progressive but was very light on specifics. The ceremony came to its planned conclusion smoothly when Natoli and an Elder raised the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags side by side.
After the celebrations I had an opportunity to speak to the mayor directly. I simply asked what noticeable changes she thought would have come from RAP action by the same time next year.
The response was along the lines of “I cant say, as it’s not up to the council who organises the RAP.” The mayor couldn’t tell me anything that would directly result from the Action Plan she’d been celebrating.
This response cast a shadow over an otherwise poignant moment that bought the community together. Politicians can announce things, but aren’t as good at making them meaningful.
It is too early to judge how the RAP will affect the coast, but hopefully it will be more than just tokenistic.
