Reconciliation Week 2021: Tamworth launches with Aboriginal voices front and centre for week of healing

This year it's all about taking practical steps to build relationships that value history and culture with the theme More Than a Word: Reconciliation Takes Action.

It's almost three decades since Australia started its formal reconciliation journey and Kamilaroi educator Len Waters said Tamworth is on the right path to healing.

"Reconciliation Week to me is very important because it's looking at reconciling a lot of the past, there's a lot of people that really don't know a lot about Aboriginal culture or Aboriginal people and the struggles over time," he said.

"We're a great part of this nation, the stuff that we do now is the stuff we have done for thousands upon thousands of years.

"I don't know what other towns are like but this town of ours here we've come a very long way, we keep gaining momentum every year."

The week opened with a traditional smoking ceremony, a didgeridoo performance from Mark Atkins and songs from Buddy Knox.

Mr Waters said it's incredible to be able to share his culture and to have it carried on by the younger generations.

"It's about sharing thousands of years across country and the universe as well," he said.

"Certainly language is very important because it forms a lot of the fabric of our culture, because when we go across the lands our old people's language is still there in all the towns.

"People love to sit and listen to stories about culture, country and the heavens."

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Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) mayor Col Murray said he was proud of the way the community had worked towards reconciliation.

"It's great to hear the history," he said.

"We have many talented people in our Aboriginal community that enrich our culture here in Tamworth.

"It's great to see everyone hopping on the bus, I think reconciliation is going to take a little while but I'm very pleased to say in Tamworth we are all on the bus now but we have a lot of hard work to go and I'm pleased and proud that commitment is there."

The flag raising ceremony was held on Thursday.

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