Aboriginal Culture
The City of Vincent acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We recognise the unique contribution the Whadjuk people have made and continue to make to our culture and in our community. We will continue to seek the input of the Traditional Owners. The land on which we live, meet and thrive as a community always was and always will be Noongar land.
Reconciliation
The City of Vincent is committed to building strong and meaningful relationships with our Aboriginal community to ensure we reach a place of greater reconciliation and equality. Over the years, we created several Reconciliation Action Plans (RAP) in order to achieve this goal.
In 2017, we commenced our reconciliation journey with the implementation of our Reflect RAP in which we began to focus on building relationships with our local Aboriginal community, as well as Aboriginal stakeholders, businesses and organisations. A 2018 - 2019 Reconciliation Action Plan Report details the actions we took under via our RAP in 2018 and 2019.
Our commitment was further cemented in 2019 when we launched our first Innovate RAP. Through this RAP, we continued our commitment to reconciliation and strengthened our understanding and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with a specific focus on building relationships with Noongar Elders, businesses and the local community. The commitment allowed us to gain an even deeper understanding of our sphere of influence to achieve our unique vision for reconciliation.
In August 2022, Council endorsed our second Innovate RAP that contains some high-level deliverables including meeting an employment target of 3 per cent of staff who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, developing a strategy to achieve 3 per cent procurement from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and developing and implementing an engagement plan.
We look forward to continuing to acknowledge and share Noongar culture, tradition and history with the wider community.
Learn more about our Reconciliation Action Plans
Working Groups
The City of Vincent had put in place working groups to help identify issues and topics of importance along with providing culturally appropriate advice.
Learn more about our Working Groups
Events
Over the years, we have held numerous events and activities to celebrate Noongar culture including:
- NAIDOC Week – July annually
- Reconciliation Week – May annually
- Close the Gap – March annually
- National Sorry Day – May annually
- Anniversary of National Apology Day – 13 February
- National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day – August annually
- Seven Sisters art installation by Sharyn Egan
- Art classes with Jade Dolman
- Noongar Story Time sessions with Bec Garlett and Karla Hart
- Screening of Aboriginal films at Backlot Studio
- Six Seasons workshops with Marissa Verma
- Aboriginal youth forums
- Bush medicine workshop with Vivienne Hansen
Learn more about our events
Policies and guidelines
The guidelines and protocols for external stakeholders have been designed to provide guidance and direction to groups and organisations when planning and facilitating a Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country in the City of Vincent.
Learn more about our policies and guidelines
Registered aboriginal sites
The City of Vincent has nine places of significance to Aboriginal people that are registered through the Aboriginal Inquiry System at the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage. Click on the link below to learn more about those sites.
See all registered sites
Noongar Culture
The City of Vincent is on the land of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation.
Learn more about their culture
Aboriginal Artwork
The City of Vincent aims to develop and promote aboriginal art and artists.
Learn more about aboriginal artwork