Lord Mayor Clover Moore, with Deputy Mayor Irene Doutney, Uncle Chicka Madden, Uncle Max Eulo, Nathan Moran and local school children (image courtesy City of Sydney)
The City acknowledges the Gadigal of the Eora Nation as the traditional custodians of this place we now call Sydney. In 1788, the British established a convict outpost on the shores of Sydney Harbour. This had far reaching and devastating impacts on the Eora Nation, including the occupation and appropriation of their traditional lands. Despite the destructive impact of this invasion, Aboriginal culture endured and is now globally recognised as one of the world’s oldest living cultures.
The Council of the City of Sydney recognises that, by acknowledging our shared past, we are laying the groundwork for a future which embraces all Australians, a future based on mutual respect and shared responsibility for our land. Signs in the City of Sydney’s parks will now welcome people with the words bujari gamarruwa, which means ‘good day’ in the language of the Gadigal. The first sign was unveiled on 10 March 2016, at Reconciliation Park, Redfern, with a ceremony that included the Lord Mayor, local elders, chief executive of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Lands Council Nathan Moran, local schoolchildren and community members.
The Gadigal words bujari gamarruwa were sourced from University of Sydney Professor Jakelin Troy’s The Sydney Language – the most comprehensive Gadigal word list published and accepted by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Hear the pronunciation of bujari gamarruwa.
Comments are closed.