The Hills Shire Council approve Indigenous acknowledgment after 10 years of campaign

A Sydney council has ended its battle over Indigenous acknowledgment in a last-ditch effort more than ten years and several campaigns later.

A group of Sydney councillors have “finally seen the light” after more than a decade of refusing to acknowledge Indigenous elders during council meetings.

Countless campaigns over multiple terms, as well as an outpouring of anguish from residents calling for The Hills Shire Council to include an Acknowledgement of Country, has finally come to an end, after a band of outgoing councillors made a last-ditch effort to make it a reality.

The northwest Sydney council, which refused multiple attempts over several years to include Aboriginal acknowledgement, finally voted to approve Indigenous recognition at its council meetings, following years of furore between elected representatives and the community over the issue.

The Darug elders and several Hills Shire councillors held a smoking ceremony to protest the council shooting down attempts to include an Acknowledgement of country in the council meetings. Darug elders and Hills Shire councillors

Outgoing Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne used her final meeting as mayor to push through the approval of Acknowledgement of Country at fortnightly council meetings.

“As a Council, we strive to create a harmonious community, based on respect and inclusion,” Cr Byrne said in her final mayoral address.

“I am proud of the work we have done to ensure our residents can enjoy an exceptional quality of life and live in safe, welcoming neighbourhoods.

“All of us are aware that concerns have been raised about Acknowledgement of Country at

Council meetings, and I accept that within the community there will be a range of views on

this — as representatives of local people, it can be expected that our own council will reflect

those views.”

Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne

In 2020, councillors voted to talk with local Elders and include Acknowledgment of Country at Citizenship Ceremonies and at major events, after Liberal councillor Brooke Collins outraged hundreds of residents when he suggested Indigenous Australians could have wiped out another race after a resident asked if he would consider supporting an Acknowledgement of Country before regular council meetings.

MORE ON ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

HILLS RESIDENTS PETITION FOR COUNCIL TO ACKNOWLEDGE TRADITIONAL OWNERS

HILLS SHIRE COUNCIL CONTINUES TO REJECT ABORIGINAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT

“We sought to begin cultural awareness training, which was ultimately postponed due to restrictions brought about by the pandemic, but remains a high priority,” Cr Byrne said this week.

Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council chief operating officer Stephen Wright said the organisation was one of the largest land holders in The Hills.

“While it may have been more suitable for The Hills to do something to recognise Indigenous communities in their community, there are an awful lot of unfortunate things that happen in the lives of Aboriginal people,” Mr Wright said.

Baulkham Hills Preschool is holding a flag-raising ceremony to hoist the Aboriginal flag above the school and will have a smoking ceremony. Pictured is Elizabeth Badaoui 4 helping Ray Kyle and Walangari Karntawarra (right) hoist the flag.

“We have been working with The Hills Shire Council for many years, and have always been aware about the issues with Acknowledgement of Country.

“One thing we did do is call for The Hills Shire Council to include an inclusive acknowledgment of all Indigenous people.”

Mr Wright said the largest populations of Indigenous people were based in Western Sydney “and they should be recognised”.

Cr Byrne was joined by councillors Peter Gangemi, Brooke Collins, Elizabeth Russo, Frank De Masi, Tony Hay, Alan Haselden, Ryan Tracey, Jacob Jackson and Reena Jethi in supporting Acknowledgement of Country at general meetings.

Meanwhile, councillors Mike Thomas and Samuel Uno rejected the call.