Last night Flinders staff and leaders from South Australia’s Indigenous community shared a meal of seasonal bush foods as part of a Reconciliation Dinner to commemorate National Reconciliation Week 2017 (NRW17).

The dinner was an opportunity for guests to honour Indigenous knowledge as well as the country’s long history of Indigenous cooking involving local produce from across Indigenous lands in Australia.

Former AFL player and proud Larrakia man, Daniel Motlop, gave a guest presentation and was followed by Nancy Bates, a prolific vocalist and songwriter from the Barkindji Nation, who gave a special solo acoustic performance.

Part proceeds of the dinner have been donated to Flinders’ Indigenous Scholarship Fund.

The dinner was one of many commemorative activities that have taken place at Flinders this week to recognise Indigenous Australians as First Nations people and highlight Flinders’ commitment Indigenous education and engagement.

These activities have included an exhibition by Noongar artist Byron Pickett called Fellow Australian at Flinders University Art Museum (running until 14 June); a workshop run by the Southern Elders Weaving Group; a lunch-time concert by Nancy Bates in the Flinders Plaza; and a panel discussion between Flinders staff and students entitled Teaching for Reconciliation.

Find out what is yet to come by reading the full NRW17 program.