NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researcher and elder, Noeline Briggs-Smith, OAM said that NAIDOC was bought in by the government to recognise the value of what aboriginal people offer to our communities right throughout Australia.
“I personally celebrate NAIDOC as being a time to be proud and celebrate my aboriginality,” Mrs Briggs-Smith OAM said.
“I think young aboriginal people should get involved, it helps to maintain their identity as being aboriginal and it also gives them the chance to mix with all the other communities in celebrating their aboriginality.”
Mrs Briggs-Smith OAM said NAIDOC has grown over the years in some communities like Moree, but in others it isn’t celebrated as much because of the government funding cuts.
“NAIDOC Week focuses on all aspects of Aboriginal peoples’ lives, culture and history and what it has to offer to the whole of Australia,” Mrs Briggs-Smith OAM said. “I think that it is great that a lot of organisations have been coming forth and organising celebrations for NAIDOC Week in different communities.”
Deputy Chairman of The Aboriginal Interagency and NAIDOC Committee, Chris Binge remembers when it was only one day of celebration.
“I remember when it was called ‘A day’ and now we get a week to celebrate which is good,” Mr Binge said
“This year’s calendar is very full, we have mixed it up a bit with family, culture and sporting events, which are all significant to aboriginal people here in Moree.”
Chairman of The Aboriginal Interagency and NAIDOC Committee, Glen Crump said the events throughout the week are for everyone in the community.
“Although it is a week of celebrating aboriginal culture it is open to the whole community to come and extend their aboriginal culture and knowledge throughout the week,” Mr Crump said.
For more information about events for NAIDOC Week, contact Elaine on 6752 5481.