On 10 December, Hume City Council and the Stolen Generations Marker Working Group will launch a Marker paying tribute and respect to the Stolen Generations: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families and communities and denied their identity, family, traditional culture and Country through the race-based policies of State and Federal Governments between 1910 and the 1970s.
Over a period of six years, Council has collaborated with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, Stolen Generations Marker peak bodies and representatives of Wurundjeri woi Wurrung to develop and install the permanent Stolen Generations Marker in Hume.
The Marker acknowledges the harm caused to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities across the nation, and serves as a reminder of terrible injustices caused by successive governments and their ongoing impacts.
The marker consists of an artwork called Covered in our Creator by Robert Young (Gunnai/Waradjurie/Yorta Yorta/Gunditjmarra). It features a large metal possum skin cloak (representing family), located on a canoe shaped ground artwork (representing journey) in front of a traditional coolamon rendered in stone (representing childhood).
The artwork will be unveiled at the launch event on Saturday 10 December from 11.30am - 1.30pm, located at the Malcolm Creek Wetlands in Craigieburn.
The launch event is free but attendees must register at the following link www.hume.vic.gov.au/sgm-launch
Join us to experience:
• A Smoking Ceremony from a Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder.
• Speeches from the Mayor of Hume City Cr Joseph Haweil, Stolen Generations Members, representatives of project partners Connecting Home and Link-Up/VACCA, the artist Robert Young (Gunnai/Waradjurie/Yorta Yorta/Gunditjmarra) and
• A performance from Mutti Mutti/Yorta Yorta/Nari Nari man Uncle Kutcha Edwards
Light refreshments will be provided.
