FED: Young 'ambassadors of reconciliation' make Uluru pilgrimage

AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-2003
FED: Young 'ambassadors of reconciliation' make Uluru pilgrimage

By Caroline Adam

SYDNEY, April 20 AAP - Hundreds of young Australians today began a pilgrimage to Uluru
in the name of reconciliation.

Around 600 young people from across the country are journeying to the Northern Territory
where the traditional custodians of Uluru, the Mutitjulu, will teach them about indigenous
culture.

It is the third expedition of its kind, sponsored by Schools in Harmony and its parent
organisation, Aussie Awakening.

Aussie Awakening national coordinator Mal Garvin said the pilgrimage was grounded in
the Easter message of reconciliation between God and man.

The young participants were today commissioned as ambassadors of reconciliation and
sent on their way as part of Easter celebrations around the country.

During the expedition the young people will share their experiences via a nightly radio
show to be broadcast to over 100 stations nationwide.

They will arrive at Uluru by bus next week.

"There's going to be Anglo and indigenous kids and kids from ethnic backgrounds on
these buses," Mr Garvin said.

"Aboriginal elders, the Mutitjulu community ... who virtually own the rock, are going
to welcome them in."

Mr Garvin said the elders would teach the young people about indigenous symbols and
their way of life.

"To some extent we're looking forward to getting rid of the word reconciliation, and
trying to imagine what things will look like after it's happened," he said.

"And we figure it will look like a big happy family where there's plenty of room for
difference and individuality."

AAP ca/ka/sek/de

KEYWORD: RECONCILIATION

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