Vigils to be held tomorrow to remember Kumanjayi Little Baby
Vigils will be held in Mparntwe Alice Springs and several other locations around the nation on Thursday evening 7th May to remember Kumanjayi Little Baby and stand with her family.
Community leaders and the family have requested the gatherings remain peaceful and apolitical in order to focus on sorry business, or mourning.
They have asked that attendees honour Kumanjayi Little Baby by wearing her favourite colour, pink.
Coalition of Peaks Lead Convenor Donnella Mills said the time for a discussion of system failures will certainly come but the first priority was standing with the family.
“Thursday’s vigils are a chance to come together as a community to honour Kumanjayi Little Baby and stand with her family as they go through this heart wrenching experience that no family – no parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, brothers or sisters – should ever have to go through.”
In a statement late last week, Yapa Elder and Kumanjayi's kinship grandfather Robin Japanangka Granites said “it is time now for sorry business, to show respect for our family and have space for grieving and remembering.
“Now is not the time to be heroes on social media or make trouble.
“We need to be strong for each other, we must respect family and cultural practice. This is the Yapa way.”
VIGIL DETAILS
Mparntwe (Alice Springs)
ANZAC Oval
5:30pm, Thursday 7 May
Gadigal Country (Sydney)
Sydney Town Hall
5:30pm, Thursday 7 May
Ngambri and Ngunnawal Country (Canberra)
The National Carillion
4:15pm Thursday 7 May
Aboriginal Tent Embassy
5:30pm, Thursday 7 May
Rubibi (Broome)
Male Oval
5:30pm, Thursday 7 May
Vigils may also be planned in other locations – we encourage you to refer to the social media pages of your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Council or other local groups to find out.