Aboriginal flag raising at Capel Shire prompts calls for other councils to move towards reconciliation

A South West Aboriginal elder is calling on regional shires to make better progress towards reconciliation through publicly recognising First Nations culture and history. The call came from Wardandi elder Sandra Hill after she raised the Aboriginal flag at the Shire of Capel’s flag raising ceremony last week. She said it was an important day for the Shire and acknowledged the existence of Aboriginal people in the region — something she says many shires could improve on. “Flying our flag is a visual commitment that our history is acknowledged in the shire and that they acknowledge we’re still here as people and our culture is still here and will continue to be here,” she said. “It’s easy to have a Reconciliation Action Plan, but this is putting your money where your mouth is and is a visual acknowledgement that you can’t deny.” “It gives us hope for the future,” she said. “It lets us know that we can work with the shire because it being accepted by councillors means that we can work together culturally.” Ms Hill said an Aboriginal flag raising ceremony like Capel’s was “more rare than you would expect” and called on other shires to follow suit. “It’s unbelievable how many local councils do not have an Aboriginal flag in 2020,” she said. “There are many towns where people would find it offensive because they don’t want to acknowledge the history.” Ms Hill attended when the Bridgetown-Greenbushes Shire council hoisted their Aboriginal flag at a ceremony last July, and she remains hopeful that other shires will follow suit and push for change.