From August 1 to 7, Hume council is celebrating Wurundjeri Week for the third year running.
Proud Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung woman Kylie Spencer, who lives in Sunbury, said to be able to celebrate her people and Uncle William Barak, who helped to get to “where we are today”, is deeply important.
“As well as our ancestors who have come before us, who have passed into the Dreamtime,” she said.
Council city services director Hector Gaston said it was an important time to “recognise, remember and celebrate” the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Traditional Owners of the land Hume residents live and work on.
“Acknowledging their celebratory week is part of council’s ongoing commitment to collaboration, support and recognition,” Mr Gaston said.
“The Wurundjeri are the Traditional Owners of this area and there is extensive history and living culture present in Hume.
“It’s important that council provides the Traditional Owners the platform to share the history, stories and culture that they are comfortable to share when appropriate.”
At this time, council is developing a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) with input from Aboriginal community members in its RAP working group.
“Council’s RAP is our vision for walking alongside our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community,” Mr Gaston said.
“This document guides how we engage with community, how we work together, and how we support projects such as the Stolen Generations Marker Project, investigating opportunities for an Aboriginal Gathering Place and events such as Welcome Baby to Country.
“Hume has done a lot of work over the past decade in naming places in the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung language, improving engagement and seeking guidance from the Wurundjeri on the way we develop policies, plans and activities.
“They have also been involved in many significant events at Hume through Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremonies.”
In June, Hume council voted to adopt Woi Wurrung names for three reserves in Sunbury: Darr Banneem for Sunbury Fields Grassland, Mumilam Korobine for Fullwood Drive Reserve and the addition of Wuruwurrt Biik as a second, dual name for Albert Road Nature Reserve were submitted to the Registrar of Geographic Names for consideration and approval.
