The Jabiru Town Council marked National Sorry Day on 26 May with a formal statement of recognition, an apology and a commitment to Aboriginal reconciliation. The statement represented the first formal acknowledgment by Council that the Mirrar people are the traditional owners of Jabiru.
Jabiru is located within the world heritage listed Kakadu National Park. The township was built in the early 1980s to service nearby uranium mining operations.
Council made the statement following a proposal to Council last month by a deputation presented on behalf of many Aboriginal and non Aboriginal members of the community. Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation represents the Mirrar people who are the traditional owners of Jabiru.
Through the statement Council recognises the Mirrar people as the traditional owners of Jabiru and apologises for the pain, grief and suffering experienced by Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a result of past laws, government policies, actions and attitudes. It expresses Council’s commitment to working in close partnership with Aboriginal custodians to further develop Jabiru in an environmentally and culturally appropriate manner for the benefit of all residents, both Bininj (Aboriginal) and Balanda (non Aboriginal).
Council has also committed to permanently flying the Aboriginal flag alongside its Council, Northern Territory and Australian flags.
Executive Officer of the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation, Andy Ralph, said it was pleasing that a wide section of the local Indigenous community have had input into the wording of the statement.
“The Mirrar people have for some time been negotiating with governments about the future of Jabiru,” he said. “It’s pleasing that we now have a commitment from the Jabiru Town Council that they too wish to work closely with traditional owners regarding a future which is sustainable for all sections of the community. This statement goes a long way to gaining the confidence of traditional owners to move forward, and we look forward to having a joint recognition of National Sorry Day on May 26 as a first step.”
Council Chairman, Bob Povey, said by agreeing to this statement the Councillors had made a big step forward for reconciliation in Jabiru.
“This is something for the next Council to consolidate and work towards, because the way forward for Jabiru is moving from a mining town to a town managed in partnership with the traditional owners,” he said.
