INDIGENOUS and non-indigenous Australians are set to come together for a day of healing, learning and fun at Gawler’s Apex Park next Wednesday to mark this year’s National Reconciliation Week.

Run by the Gawler Reconciliation Action Group (GRAG), the event hopes to start conversations about issues facing indigenous Australians every day and mend relationships between non-indigenous Australians and the nation’s first people.

GRAG co-chair Rebecca Kimlin said Apex Park is an important place for Gawler’s aboriginal community and is a special place to hold the event.

“Gawler has a rich history in terms of aboriginal people,” she said.

“It was a meeting place; Kaurna, Ngadjuri and Peramangk and a lot of other aboriginal people would meet here because it was a place of trade.

“That’s why we hold this event near the river at Apex Park.”

Aboriginal performer Eddie Peters will also make an appearance at the event, as well as Adelaide artist Pirax. Traditional food, storytelling, weaving and other hands-on activities will also take place on the day.

“The community response to this event is very healing and it gives me hope for my kids in the future that Gawler will be ticking all the boxes for reconciliation,” Mrs Kimlin said.

“I don’t know about anywhere else in the world, but we’re doing alright here.”

The theme of this year’s National Reconciliation Week is ‘grounded in truth – walk together in courage’, an idea Mrs Kimlin said was vital for improving understanding between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

“There’s been a big push over the last few years around truth telling,” she said.

“Part of that theme is talking about history, acknowledging it and knowing when we talk about it there’s a lot of healing that’s involved for aboriginal people and their relationship with non- Aboriginal people.”

The GRAG Reconciliation Week ‘fun day’ will take place at Apex Park on Wednesday, May 29 from 10am.