Portland's Chris Saunders is organising Invasion Day Smoking Ceremonies to mark January 26

Organiser Chris Saunders said the smoking ceremonies near Portland would reflect on the shared history of all Australians and he invited the whole community to attend.

"This is an important day in all our calendars," he said.

As many celebrate Australia Day on January 26 to mark the arrival of the First Fleet and English settlement in the country, for the Indigenous population, the date marks the beginning of persecution against their culture.

"The first site where we're holding the event is the site of the first massacre site of Gunditjmara people," Mr Saunders said. "We will hear from our Elders and their thoughts of what this place means.

"It's a time for reflection, education will happen but the focus is on our shared history.

Services marking Invasion Day have gained momentum in recent years and in 2020, people have used their social media platforms to convey the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Mr Saunders said the rise of the Black Lives Matters movement over the past seven months had raised awareness of Invasion Day.

"There's been so much work towards dismantling social injustices and hopefully people will start thinking about how we're still feeling the effects," he said. "You hear our stories and they're only from four-or-five generations ago.

"The Henty Brothers invaded our land and to come to Gunditjmara country today you have to travel on the Henty Highway - it's a stark reminder of what they did to dismantle Guditjmara country.

"We expect the same energy of the Black Lives Matter movement given to Indigenous movements in our own backyard and we expect the same standard when its not trending.

"Who's there on the day and their intentions will put my mind at ease about whether we're on the right path."

The first Invasion Day ceremony will take place at 9am on the sites of the Convincing Ground Massacre (Beach Road, Allestree).

The second ceremony at 11am will be conducted at the site of the first lands ploughed on Gunditjmara country (across the road from Portland District Health).

For more information about the events head to facebook.com/events/728625607793352/

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