National Reconciliation Week to highlight powerful call for unity and action in the Pilbara

The Pilbara is joining communities across Australia in a powerful reflection on the nation’s past and a united push toward a more inclusive future, during National Reconciliation Week.

Speaking with the North West Telegraph, Reconciliation WA chief executive Jody Nunn highlighted the importance of this year’s theme: Bridging Now to Next.

“This year’s theme really plays into where we’re at now, where we just had a State and Federal election and I think what Australians voted for was unity over division, primarily,” she said.

“We’ve got to think about things differently and really challenge how we go about it, and of course, from a reconciliation perspective, we strongly advocate for Aboriginal people to be at the heart of decision-making.

“In the Pilbara, of all places, how is it that in 2025, we have Save the Children and 54 Reasons working on the ground, in one of the most prosperous areas in the world.

“We’ve got to ask ourselves some pretty tough questions as we face forward, and how do we create equity and equality for First Nations people and Torres Strait Islander people.”

The Pilbara’s legacy of resistance and resilience adds even greater depth to the region’s role in Reconciliation Week.

It was here, in 1946, that 800 Aboriginal workers staged the first organised industrial strike since colonisation, challenging decades of indentured labour and demanding fair treatment.

“When we look at the closing the gap statistics, they’re not moving even remotely in the direction where we need them to move,” Ms Nunn said.

“But we’ve also got some really amazing success stories; the Pilbara is one of those.

“There are a range of programs led by Aboriginal organisations, which are fantastic and real examples of how people can stay on country and continue to care for country.

“There is a number of languages that are reawakening and that are being handed on to the next generation.

“So we don’t want to just look at the deficit, we want to look at the many success stories there are, and there are many in the Pilbara.”

Ms Nunn said her hope for reconciliation in the future was for all Australians to understand the country’s history.

“We’ve had to learn a lot of lessons along the way and we have had very tough policies; the 1905 Assimilation Act was one of the toughest policies against Aboriginal people globally, still even to this day.

“We have a history we need to understand and if we understand that, then we can be better for the future.

“Sometimes people feel that it’s insurmountable; that there’s too many challenges but the whole success of the reconciliation model is based on having lots of people nudging the agenda forward, not just one or two, but that a community that cares broadly.”

In Newman, a live stream of the Reconciliation WA Virtual Breakfast from Boorloo Perth will be held on May 27, as well as local activities and guest speakers.

In Port Hedland, there will be a range of free events and activities, including Indigenous Australians’ arts and crafts, a traditional Aboriginal dance workshop and an evening of music under the stars with multi-award-winning artists Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse on Friday, May 30 at the JD Hardie Youth and Community Hub.

For more information on National Reconciliation Week, head to www.recwa.org.au/nrw-2025.