NAIDOC WEEK
National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. You can support and get to know your local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities through activities and events held across the country.
NAIDOC Week 2023 - For Our Elders
The theme for 2023 NAIDOC Week is For Our Elders.
This extract, edited from the NAIDOC Week website, highlights the importance of Elders today.
Elders continue to play an important role and hold a prominent place in communities and families. They are cultural knowledge holders, trailblazers, nurturers, advocates, teachers, survivors, leaders, hard workers and loved ones.
They guide generations and pave the way for today. Guidance, not only through generations of advocacy and activism but in everyday life.
Strength is drawn from their knowledge and experience, in everything from land management and cultural knowledge to justice and human rights. They have set the many courses that are followed across multiple sectors like health, education, the art, politics, and everything in between.
The struggles of Elders help to move us all forward today and the equality we all continue to fight for is found in their fight. Their tenacity and strength has carried the survival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
We pay our respects to the Elders past and lost, and to those who continue fighting across all our Nations and we pay homage to them.
2023 NAIDOC Week events in Hobsons Bay
NAIDOC Flag Raising Ceremony
When: Tuesday 4 July at 11am
Where: Hobsons Bay Civic Centre Flagpoles
Council will host a NAIDOC Week flag raising ceremony and morning tea at the Civic Centre.
A special day For Our Elders about Our Elders
When: Wednesday 5 July, 10am-12pm
Where: Newport Hub
Enjoy a walk and a read under the Story Tree.
The Story tree will showcase the book Kunyi. A beautiful nonfiction children's book that tells the story of Kunyi and her life growing up as part of the stolen generation in a remote children's home. The book has been taken apart and laminated so that it can be hung from the branches in the large Oak tree on the deck out the front of Newport Library for the day.
Join us for a performance by the Yarrabah Cultural Dancers at 10am.
The Yarrabah Cultural Dancers come from the Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire in Queensland - Hobsons Bay's sister city and will be putting on a performance!
Settle in with a young friend for a short film, Waruwi, and a free cuppa tea at 11am.
Waruwi is an Aboriginal girl looking after her cheeky Nana while the rest of her extended family is away from camp. It's just for a day but what a day it turns out to be.
Enjoy an exhibition of poetry anytime throughout the week.
The exhibition is a collection of children's poems inspired by the reconciliation week theme.
The Colour & Sound of My Totem Exhibition
Where: Louis Joel Arts & Community Centre, Altona
Exhibition
When: July 1-27
The Colour and Sound of Our Totem exhibition explores the natural environment and aspects of Indigenous culture through the exploration of the Totem. Showcasing the artwork of Taungwurrung, Yorta Yorta Elder Glennys Briggs, Hartley Briggs, Taungwurrung, Yorta Yorta, and Scott Hansen Yorta Yorta/ Tungurung and Wiradjuri, the exhibition celebrates 2023 NAIDOC theme ‘For Our Elders’ by representing and honouring Elders, Past and Present as the next generation together continue traditions that represent The Kulin Family Group. Through various mediums, the exhibition celebrates Banjul’s creatures, the animals, the birds, the insects and the important part they play in our lives.
Launch
When: Saturday 1 July, 2pm
Opening by Maxine Briggs Taungwurrung Yorta Yorta Elder with music by Bart Willoughby, Kokatha /Mirning
Workshop for kids
When: Wednesday 5 July, 3pm - 4.30pm
To coincide with the exhibition The Colour and Sound of My Totem children between 5-12 years of age are invited to join dancer, Yvonne Rigney Ngarrindjeri/Kokatha, and visual artist Frances Loriente as they guide them through the story of ‘How the Turtle Got His Shell’ by David Unaipon. Participants will explore the story through movement and gestures to the music of Bart Willoughby, Kokatha /Mirning, as well as make collages based on an animal totem from the story.
Free. Limited spaces available. Please email culture@ljac.com.au or call (03) 9398 2511 to make a booking.
Q&A with author Paul Callaghan
Where: the recording can be accessed online here
When: this recording will only be available during NAIDOC week (July 2-9)
Hobsons Bay Libraries were joined by Paul Callaghan, author of The Dreaming Path, for a Q and A session in May this year. The recording of this session is being made available for viewing during NAIDOC week only.
Paul discusses his journey through depression and the role of Aboriginal culture, spirituality and philosophy had in not only enabling him to recover, but also empowering him to live life by his truth rather than everybody else's expectations. He shares knowledge that reveals the power of Aboriginal spirituality as a profound source of contentment and wellbeing for anyone willing to listen.
Deadly Western Connections
For other events, activities and opportunities across Melbourne’s west through NAIDOC Week, please check out Deadly Western Connections website
https://deadlywesternconnections.com.au/events-and-programs/