Corroboree 2000 Sharing our Future is the theme for National Reconciliation Week 2000.

This year is the fifth National Reconciliation Week. The week was initiated by Council to provide a special focus for nationwide activities to support the Council’s vision of: A united Australia, which respects this land of ours; values the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage; and provides justice and equity for all.

The week is a time for everyone in your community to come together and to support reconciliation. It is a time to explore and acknowledge shared experiences of living in your community, to discover a shared heritage, to understand and respect the local indigenous people’s culture, and to make your community a better place to live.

National Reconciliation Week is framed by two significant dates in Australia’s history which best symbolise the hopes and aims for reconciliation.

May 27 marks the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum in which over 90 percent of Australians voted to give the Commonwealth the power to make laws for Aboriginal people.

June 3 marks the anniversary of the High Court of Australia’s judgement in the Mabo case in 1992. The High Court’s judgement recognised the native title rights of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and overturned the myth of terra-nullius- the notion that the Australian continent was empty, unowned land before 1788. The court also said that native title no longer existed on, for example, freehold title land.

A National Event

A national event sharing the week’s name Corroboree 2000 and theme, will be held on the first two days of National Reconciliation Week in Sydney.

Corroboree 2000 will be a ceremonial gathering of Australians to exchange commitments, make agreements and share in cultural performances for reconciliation. It will bring together Australians from all walks of life who can demonstrate their commitment to reconciliation as the Nation approaches the centenary of Federation in 2001.

On Saturday 27 May, the Council will host a representative gathering of the Australian people at the Sydney Opera House to mark the achievements of reconciliation so far and at which the Council will launch its final proposals about a document for reconciliation. Only 2000 people will be able to attend this event because of limited space but Council wants the broadest possible representation.

On Sunday 28 May, a People’s Walk for Reconciliation will take place across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, followed by public concerts at Darling Harbour. This event is for everyone and Council hopes that tens of thousands of people will take part.

The people’s walk and concert are being staged with the support and assistance of the NSW Government.

Quick guide to the People's Walk for Reconciliation

Why Corroboree?

Corroboree is a word in the language of the Darug people from the Sydney region and is defined as a group of ceremonies, including public performance of songs and dances, covering the whole of social, economic, legal, political, religious and cultural life of the Darug people.

All Aboriginal clans had similar highly developed ceremonial arrangements to allow their societies to operate in a complete way.