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RECONCILIATION DAY (ACT)

When is Reconciliation Day (ACT) in 2024?

Reconciliation Day (ACT) in 2024 is on the Monday, 27th of May (5/27/2024).

Reconciliation Day (ACT) is on the 148th day of 2024. There are 218 days left in the year.

Reconciliation Day (ACT) Facts

  • Date: May 27, 2024
  • Regional
  • Also Called: Fanily and Community Day
  • Celebrations: Celebrations; parades, workshops, kids’ amusement
Reconciliation Day (ACT) iImage Credit: Wikipedia

Australian Capital Territory is the first state in Australia to celebrate a public holiday dedicated to the indigenous people. Reconciliation Day was founded to honour the native Australian culture as well as promoting cultural exchange. The first Reconciliation Day was celebrated on May 28, 2018. This was after the Indigenous affairs minister presented a bill to the legislature Assembly to have a day celebrating the Australian culture. The law was passed and Reconciliation Day became a public holiday thus replacing the Family and Community Day which was observed in September.

History of Reconciliation Day

The Reconciliation Day history can be traced back to 1967 during the Australian Referendum. The referendum aimed at removing clauses in the constitution that discriminated against the indigenous Australian groups, Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. One of the clauses denied the indigenous groups citizenship because they were not to be included during the Australian census. On 27th May 1967, over 90% of Australian citizens voted in favour of amending the constitution and getting rid of the discriminatory clauses.

Earlier in the late 1950s, there was a rise in civil rights activism as most Australians aimed at ending this injustice and instead work towards reconciling the country’s ethnic groups. It is this activism that initiated the 1967 referendum. The outcome of the referendum constituted a victory for the indigenous Australian civil rights and the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders were included in the official national census.

Today, the Australian Capital Territory celebrates Reconciliation Day on the first Monday of May to commemorate this victory. Reconciliation Day also marks the beginning of a weeklong observance of the National Reconciliation week which was first celebrated in 1996.

How to Celebrate Reconciliation Day

Reconciliation Day aims at giving an opportunity for the indigenous and non-indigenous Australians to reconcile with each other. This is, therefore, the perfect time to bury any hatchet you have had with persons belonging to the indigenous or non-indigenous community. Make it an ongoing process where you forgive each other, resolve the wrongs and move forward together.

You can also attend the Reconciliation in the Park event. The fun-filled event is a great day out for the entire family. Some of the activities during the event include live music from celebrated Australian artists, performances from the indigenous communities, kids’ amusements activities. Bush tucker talks among others.

You can also spearhead reconciliation workshops in schools, workplaces, and communities across Canberra. Let everyone in these institutions understand the importance of reconciling and embracing everyone despite their ethnic background. It is sad that some members of the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders are often treated as foreigners in their own country.

Remember to use the power of social media and share a message about Reconciliation Day by using the hashtag #ReconciliationDay.

Why Celebrate Reconciliation Day

Recnciliation Day helps us appreciate and embrace the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders people as part of the Australian citizens. These indigenous Australians experience vast inequalities in terms of access to health care, education, the standard of living, and employment. Although these communities have a high birth rate, their life expectancy is very low putting them at risk of extinction. The primary cause of death of indigenous Australians is assault, suicide, and chronic diseases such as heart conditions, liver diseases, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, and lung cancer. Celebrating Reconciliation Day is the first step in understanding these inequalities and helping these people get a better living.

Interesting Facts about the Indigenous Australians

  • Approximately 145 native languages are spoken in Australia while 110 languages are at the risk of extinction.
  • The English words kangaroo, koala, dingo, barramundi, and wombat have their origin from Aboriginal languages.
  • Waterholes, rock arts, and burial grounds are some of the sacred sites of the Aboriginal people.
  • The Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders are the oldest living creatures in the world. They date back to over 50000 years.
  • Almost 35% of the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders live in major cities while 13.7% live in very remote areas.
  • The Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders were granted the right to vote in 1962

    Reconciliation Day (ACT) Observances

    DAY
    DATE
    HOLIDAY NAME
    • Mon
    • Jun 01, 2020
    • Mon
    • May 31, 2021
    • Mon
    • May 30, 2022
    • Mon
    • May 29, 2023

    List of Australian Capital Territory Holidays Celebrated in Year 2023

    DAYDATEHOLIDAY
    SundaySunJan 01, 2023Jan 01New Year's Day
    MondayMonJan 02, 2023Jan 02New Year's Day Holiday
    ThursdayThuJan 26, 2023Jan 26Australia Day
    MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13Canberra Day
    FridayFriApr 07, 2023Apr 07Good Friday
    SaturdaySatApr 08, 2023Apr 08Easter Saturday
    SundaySunApr 09, 2023Apr 09Easter Sunday
    MondayMonApr 10, 2023Apr 10Easter Monday
    TuesdayTueApr 25, 2023Apr 25Anzac Day
    MondayMonMay 29, 2023May 29Reconciliation Day
    MondayMonJun 12, 2023Jun 12King's Birthday
    MondayMonOct 02, 2023Oct 02Labour Day
    MondayMonDec 25, 2023Dec 25Christmas Day
    TuesdayTueDec 26, 2023Dec 26Boxing Day

    List of Popular Celebration Days of United States in 2023

    DAYDATEHOLIDAY
    ThursdayThuJan 12, 2023Jan 12National Pharmacists Day
    ThursdayThuJan 19, 2023Jan 19National Popcorn Day
    WednesdayWedFeb 01, 2023Feb 01National Signing Day
    ThursdayThuFeb 02, 2023Feb 02Groundhog Day
    FridayFriFeb 03, 2023Feb 03National Wear Red Day
    ThursdayThuFeb 09, 2023Feb 09National Pizza Day
    MondayMonFeb 13, 2023Feb 13Galentine's Day
    TuesdayTueFeb 14, 2023Feb 14Valentine's Day
    WednesdayWedFeb 15, 2023Feb 15National Bagel Day
    SaturdaySatFeb 18, 2023Feb 18National Drink Wine Day
    TuesdayTueFeb 21, 2023Feb 21National Pancake Day
    WednesdayWedFeb 22, 2023Feb 22National Margarita Day
    FridayFriMar 03, 2023Mar 03National Employee Appreciation Day
    TuesdayTueMar 07, 2023Mar 07National Cereal Day
    SundaySunMar 12, 2023Mar 12Daylight savings
    MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13National Napping Day
    TuesdayTueMar 14, 2023Mar 14National Walkout Day
    TuesdayTueMar 14, 2023Mar 14National Pi Day
    MondayMonMar 20, 2023Mar 20National Proposal Day
    ThursdayThuMar 23, 2023Mar 23National Puppy Day
    ThursdayThuMar 30, 2023Mar 30National Doctor Day
    WednesdayWedApr 05, 2023Apr 05National Walking Day
    ThursdayThuApr 06, 2023Apr 06National Burrito Day
    FridayFriApr 07, 2023Apr 07National Beer Day
    TuesdayTueApr 11, 2023Apr 11National Pet Day
    WednesdayWedApr 12, 2023Apr 12National Grilled Cheese Day
    ThursdayThuMay 04, 2023May 04National Day Of Prayer
    SundaySunMay 14, 2023May 14Mother's Day
    ThursdayThuMay 25, 2023May 25National Towel Day
    ThursdayThuMay 25, 2023May 25National Wine Day
    FridayFriJun 02, 2023Jun 02National Donut Day
    ThursdayThuJun 08, 2023Jun 08National Best Friends Day
    SundaySunJun 18, 2023Jun 18Father's Day
    WednesdayWedJun 21, 2023Jun 21National Selfie Day
    ThursdayThuJun 22, 2023Jun 22National Kissing Day
    TuesdayTueJul 11, 2023Jul 11Amazon Prime Day
    ThursdayThuJul 13, 2023Jul 13National French Fry Day
    FridayFriJul 14, 2023Jul 14National Nude Day
    SundaySunJul 16, 2023Jul 16National Ice Cream Day
    WednesdayWedJul 19, 2023Jul 19National Hot Dog Day
    MondayMonJul 24, 2023Jul 24National Tequila Day
    SaturdaySatJul 29, 2023Jul 29National Chicken Wing Day
    TuesdayTueAug 01, 2023Aug 01National Girlfriends Day
    SundaySunAug 06, 2023Aug 06National Sister Day
    MondayMonSep 18, 2023Sep 18National Cheeseburger Day
    TuesdayTueOct 03, 2023Oct 03National Boyfriends Day
    WednesdayWedOct 04, 2023Oct 04National Vodka Day
    WednesdayWedOct 04, 2023Oct 04National Taco Day
    MondayMonOct 09, 2023Oct 09Leif Erikson Day
    SaturdaySatOct 21, 2023Oct 21Sweetest Day
    SundaySunOct 29, 2023Oct 29National Cat Day
    TuesdayTueOct 31, 2023Oct 31Halloween
    FridayFriNov 03, 2023Nov 03National Sandwich Day
    FridayFriNov 24, 2023Nov 24Black Friday
    MondayMonNov 27, 2023Nov 27Cyber Monday
    SaturdaySatDec 02, 2023Dec 02Candle Day
    SaturdaySatDec 09, 2023Dec 09National Pastry Day
    FridayFriDec 15, 2023Dec 15National Ugly Sweater day