Recognising Australia’s First Peoples for National Reconciliation Week

02 June 2017

This year Rio Tinto is celebrating National Reconciliation Week by recognising Australia’s Indigenous culture and reconciliation journey for our country’s past, present and future.

National Reconciliation Week is celebrating three key milestones including:

  • 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the census
  • 20th anniversary of Sorry Day
  • 25th anniversary of the landmark Mabo high court decision on Native Title.

On Friday 2 June Reconciliation WA and Recognise will hold a breakfast in Kings Park. This will be followed by a "Reconciliation Walk" down St Georges Terrace where Indigenous and non-Indigenous people (including many Rio Tinto iron ore employees) will walk together to reduce the gap and create a fair and equitable future for all first Australians.

Managing director Australia Joanne Farrell said "We have a long way to go and a lot of work to do, but I am proud that our company remains a leader in Indigenous relations and I am proud of all of our employees who have participated and organised National Reconciliation Week events over the past week."

Last weekend Rio Tinto’s involvement was the AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous round with the curtain raiser to Dreamtime at the ‘G played by 50 young men from the Rio Tinto Footy Means Business programme. Participants in the programme come from right across the country including from communities within Rio Tinto’s operational footprint including Gove apprentice diesel mechanic Dale Dhamarrandji.

"Rio Tinto is very proud to be part of Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous round and share in each players journey in showcasing Australia’s unique Indigenous culture." Joanne said.

About National Reconciliation Week
National Reconciliation Week runs annually from 27 May – 3 June. These dates mark two milestones in Australia’s reconciliation: The 1967 referendum and the historic Mabo decision, respectively. For more information please visit www.reconciliation.org.au/nrw/

About Footy Means Business
Rio Tinto is the principal partner of all AFL Indigenous Programmes and is now in its seventh year of involvement in the Indigenous leadership development program Footy Means Business.