More than 250 people attended the City of Stonnington's third Healing Ceremony on Friday, 26 January 2024, following the citizenship ceremony in Malvern Town Hall where we welcomed our newest Australians to our community.
The Healing Ceremony provided an opportunity for the Stonnington community to join our Traditional Custodians, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation to pay respect and acknowledge their living connection to Country.
City of Stonnington Deputy Mayor, Cr Mike Scott, said that the Healing Ceremony is an opportunity for the community to deeply listen to and learn from our First Nations people.
"A Healing Ceremony provides focus and a formal commitment to strengthening a future of mutual respect and harmony. Today, we acknowledge that the inter-generational impacts of colonisation continue to disadvantage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
"It was wonderful to see such a great turn out from the community and to watch everyone coming together on this day. We value our relationship with the Traditional Owners and events such as this gives us an opportunity to learn from each other and enhance cultural awareness," said Cr Scott.
Following the Smoking Ceremony, Nhanbu Togip performed a traditional dance and Ngiyampaa man, Pirritu, performed songs and shared his story of connection to country and how it has shaped his music.
We thank Jarrah for providing a scrumptious BBQ lunch.
