Coorong District Council has taken another step towards its commitment to reconciliation through the development and launch of its first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) celebrated at Friday’s Reconciliation Week art exhibition opening in the Coorong Gallery.

This year the Council made a commitment to reconciliation and embarked on the development of its very first Reconciliation Action Plan which has now received endorsement from Reconciliation Australia.

“I am proud to be part of Coorong District Council’s important journey towards reconciliation – the RAP has been developed in the spirit of reconciliation and acknowledgement of the traditional lands and waters on which the Council operates,” says Coorong District Council Mayor Paul Simmons.

“It is the Council’s formal statement to reconciliation and will assist with embedding the principles and purpose of reconciliation within the organisation.”

“Coorong District Council is located within Ngarrindjeri Ruwe and covers much of the Coorong, which has been home for many thousands of years to the Ngarrindjeri people.”

“The Ngarrindjeri have a timeless connection to the lower Murray River, Lakes and Coorong, and like the Ngarrindjeri, we as a Council are proud of our district and the RAP framework which allows us to further understand where we need to grow, develop and create stronger connections with First Nations people.”

The Reconciliation Action Plan will guide the Council in its reconciliation journey, acknowledge what is being done well – which will be used as a foundation to build on, and continue to develop relationships and seek guidance from First Nations peoples.

The artwork featured on the cover of the plan was created by Artist Summer Dawn and is titled ‘The Art of Reconciliation’. The artwork is a representation of the Council’s vision and journey to reconciliation and reflects the unity of commonality between reconciliation and culture.

The RAP was launched at the Coorong Gallery’s newest art exhibition opening which coincided with the first day of this year’s National Reconciliation Week. The exhibition celebrates and features established and emerging Ngarrindjeri artists.

The ‘Ngarrindjeri Ruwe – Our Lands, Our Waters’ exhibition is open to the public at the Coorong Gallery between 9am – 4:30pm weekdays, and will remain on display until 22 July 2022.

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Contact:

Bridget Mather
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | COORONG DISTRICT COUNCIL
Phone: 1300 785 277 | E: bmather@coorong.sa.gov.au