Aboriginal culture and excellence will be celebrated through dance, song and storytelling at the sixth annual Koojay Corroboree, held on Friday 27 May at 11am on Bidjigal and Gadigal land, Coogee Beach, Sydney.

Held in partnership with the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council, Koojay Corroboree marks the start of National Reconciliation Week, which runs from 27 May to 3 June each year.

The event will feature a Welcome to Country, traditional and contemporary dance and storytelling by local Aboriginal groups to launch this year’s Reconciliation theme Be Brave Make Change.

“Working towards reconciliation is an important and ongoing process that Randwick Council is committed to being part of,” said Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker.

“It’s an honour to celebrate the spiritual and cultural connection that our Aboriginal residents have with this area and, if people have the chance, I encourage everyone to make it a priority to come to Coogee and experience this tradition for themselves. Nothing can beat it; it’s a joyous and moving event.”

The Corroboree will this year also feature a fashion parade of Aboriginal designs by Colleen Tighe Johnson of Buluuy Mirrii Design. The label uses Gomeroi artworks and Gamilaraay language printed on luxury fabric and sewn into couture garments.

“It is Buluuy Mirii's honour to showcase pieces from this year's The Honey Ant collection, which is inspired by First Nations women and matriarchal customs,” said designer Colleen Tighe Johnson.

“As women, we nurture, support, and sustain our families and communities. Reconciliation Week is going forward with this year's theme Be Brave Make Change. We know our women continue to be brave and work towards a better future.”

Koojay is a Dharug word meaning the ‘smell of seaweed drying’. This refers to the drying out of kelp or seaweed, which washes up on the shores of Coogee Beach and leaves a distinctive smell.