Reconciliation starts with the truth

My name is Kevin Kropinyeri I am an Aboriginal Comedian from the Ngarrindjeri Nation of the Lower River Murray in South Australia.

Most people know me as a comedian, but first of all I am a husband and a father and I have a sphere of influence that includes my family and community – like we all have.

White Australia needs to deal with the truth about its history and how it’s dealt with the first nations here.  At the same time I’ve dealt with a lot of racism in this country and I wouldn’t be where I am today as a husband, father and successful comedian if I hadn’t learned how to forgive and move forward.

We all have spheres of influence and within them, we need to recognise the truth but also promote forgiveness. A great place to start with reconciliation in this beautiful country of ours, is with the truth!

I believe that we’ve still got a big job ahead of us, but things are headed in the right direction. We all have an active part to play in making that change.

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Paul House with gum leaves and smoke
Paul Girrawah House

Paul Girrawah House has multiple First Nation ancestries from the South-East Canberra region, including the Ngambri-Ngurmal (Walgalu), Pajong (Gundungurra), Wallabollooa (Ngunnawal) and Erambie/Brungle (Wiradyuri) family groups.

Paul acknowledges his diverse First Nation history, he particularly identifies as a descendant of Onyong aka Jindoomang from Weereewaa (Lake George) and Henry ‘Black Harry’ Williams from Namadgi who were both multilingual, essentially Walgalu-Ngunnawal-Wiradjuri speaking warriors and Ngunnawal–Wallaballooa man William Lane aka ‘Billy the Bull’ - Murrjinille.

Paul was born at the old Canberra hospital in the centre of his ancestral country and strongly acknowledges his First Nation matriarch ancestors, in particular his mother Dr Aunty Matilda House-Williams and grandmother, Ms Pearl Simpson-Wedge.

Paul completed a Bachelor of Community Management from Macquarie University, and Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage and Management from CSU.

Paul provided the Welcome to Country for the 47th Opening of Federal Parliament in 2022. Paul is Board Director, Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council, Member Indigenous Reference Group, National Museum of Australia and Australian Government Voice Referendum Engagement Group.  

Paul works on country with the ANU, First Nations Portfolio as a Senior Community Engagement Officer

Acknowledgement of Country

Reconciliation Australia acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing  connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away.

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