THE Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre in Moree has secured funding as part of the 2012 Indigenous Strategic Projects initiative.
THE Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre in Moree had a welcome boost this week, securing funding as part of the 2012 Indigenous Strategic Projects initiative.
Minister for the Arts, George Souris, together with the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Victor Dominello and the Minister for Western NSW, Kevin Humphries, yesterday announced $200,000 in funding to help secure the centre’s future.
“The Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre is a significant national, cultural and historical asset.
It helps sustain the identity of the Kamilaroi nation and its people by preserving and supporting the development of Kamilaroi culture,” Mr Souris said.
The centre holds a collection of cultural, language and family histories built up over the past two decades by senior Kamilaroi woman Auntie Noelene Briggs-Smith.
The collection consists of more than 100,000 genealogies, 15,000 photographs, language records and other documents relating to Moree Kamilaroi families.
The funding, to be administered by the State Library of NSW, is being provided from Arts NSW’s 2012 Arts Funding Program.Mr Dominello said the Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre’s work is important in helping to strengthen NSW Aboriginal identity.
“Aboriginal arts and culture are vital aspects of contemporary Aboriginal society. They are crucial parts of the social fabric of Aboriginal people and communities throughout Australia,” Mr Dominello said.
Mr Humphries said he was delighted to see such investment in Aboriginal culture in Western NSW.
“This funding will also provide great economic benefits to the local Aboriginal community, the town of Moree and the wider region of Western NSW,” Mr Humphries said.