BOY: We reconcile and remember what happened in the past, which was bad, but we can remember that and say sorry for it.

MAN 1: The knowledge and the history that we have of this country is important for us all.

WOMAN 1: I think things have slightly improved, but it's taken 40-odd years for this to be reality.

WOMAN 2: Well, I guess reconciliation means - well, I think - for white Australia to be apologising and making amends to the Aboriginal people and the injustices that have happened.

MAN 2: Being a white fella, I guess for me, I recognise the injustices that previous governments have done to Aboriginal people. It's been a really tragic set of events that has happened since colonisation.

PROFESSOR PETER BUCKSKIN: It's about righting the wrong. It's about giving... It took to the '60s where Aboriginal people were allowed to vote in this country.
It's about celebration of our country's diversity and how rich Australia is and we wanna share that wealth with everyone that comes here. Bringing together all Australians, whether you're the first Australians that's been here for 40,000-50,000 years or you're the most recent migrant from Africa or from Asia. Throughout South Australia this week there are events everywhere, but here in the city of Adelaide, not just the City of Playford, but many other local councils are having events - barbecues, talking circles, church services in our cathedrals, the union movement's having rallies and talking to their workers. This event is important because it's the engagement of our young people.

WOMAN 3: We're working with all the school children that are coming through from their various schools and they're just getting to experience what it's like to actually put a painting together. It brings acceptance - that's what it brings - to a mixed group of people.

WOMAN 2: This is for Reconciliation Week, but we're doing a pledge book and it's so people can write about some action they can take in their own life. People have written all sorts of things. A lot of people have written that they pledge to learn more about the stolen generation and learn more about Aboriginal history. I think this one's nice. "I pledge as a new mother to teach my child and other children about Aboriginal history." I think that's really nice. North Ingle Primary School said, "We pledge to learn more about the history of what has happened to Aboriginal people since the coming of Europeans." They signed their names.

GIRL: It's about non-indigenous and Indigenous people coming together and reconciling and Reconciliation Week is a week where that can happen, like events and stuff, like the Reconciliation Ball that I'm going to. You have to take a non-indigenous partner and it's about, you know, getting together.

MAN 3: Reconciliation is... ..should be an ongoing process. It's just not for today.

MAN 2: Hopefully, Australians like me will embrace it with full force and we'll have a much richer Australian culture.

PROFESSOR PETER BUCKSKIN: Well, I hope in another 40 years time that we don't need to talk about the levels of disadvantage and disengagement. I hope that all the young people that I just finished speaking to - there's around about a thousand of them here today - that they have a future where they're respected and they feel safe in Australia, that they don't feel any different because they happen to be a person of colour or a person of difference, but they are an Australian that just happens to be an Indigenous Australian and that needs to be respected and understood. Any good partnership, you've got to work at it. You've gotta have tolerance and understanding and acceptance. You gotta learn to say sorry and then you can move on. I think when we address those issues with that level of passion and commitment and engagement, only then will, I think, Aboriginal Australia will feel like they've got a place in this country.