Celebrating Aboriginal ceremony, tradition & culture

Corroboree flags

Council, in conjunction with the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council, holds the annual Koojay Corroboree on Coogee Beach to launch Reconciliation Week. This year the event will be held on Friday 27 May 2022 from 11am.

The sands of Coogee Beach will come to life as Aboriginal Dancers perform traditional and contemporary dance in an event where Australia’s First Nations People interact with the Dreamtime through dance, music and storytelling.  The Koojay Corroboree will feature live performances and a fashion parade.

The Corroboree is held during National Reconciliation Week; a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements and explore how each of us can join the national reconciliation effort and take fresh action in creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships.  Every year, there is an expectation  that we all have a part to play in reconciliation and this year’s National Reconciliation Week theme ‘Be brave. Make change.’ is a tribute to that.  Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians.

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History

Reconciliation Week – National Reconciliation Week (NRW) runs annually from 27 May – 3 June. These dates mark two milestones in Australia’s reconciliation journey:

  • The 1967 referendum and the historic Mabo decision, respectively.
  • The 1967 successful referendum paved the way for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be counted in the census and gave Commonwealth Government powers to make laws for the benefit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
  • The Mabo decision by the High Court of Australia turned over the notion of terra-nullius recognising Aboriginal native title of the lands of Australia.

Koojay Corroboree was first held in 2015 and has grown in to a significant Council event. The Koojay Corroboree is a celebration of the continuation of local Aboriginal culture and knowledge. Previously Council has hosted Koojay Corroboree to acknowledge National Reconciliation Week however due to the unpredictability of the spread of COVID, changing restrictions and to protect the safety of the public during the pandemic it was decided not to proceed with Koojay Corroboree in 2021. We are looking forward to returning in 2022.

by jay