NAIDOC Week Celebration Commences

The National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observation Committee Week, or NAIDOC, for this year started on Sunday, July 5, and will end this Saturday, July 11. In Tasmania, a crowd of primary school students together with their families were given a tour in Mount Wellington -- locally known as Kunanyi -- and the chance to experience indigenous culture.

The origins of the committee can be traced back to the appearance of Native groups in the 1920s with the goal to raise awareness on the standing and treatment of Ethnic Australians. The celebration is held annually during the first full week of the month of July. It is done to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait history, as well as recognise the contributions Native Australians made to their homeland and society.

According to ABC, cultural educator Linton Burgess said that Kunanyi held a significant place on Tasmanians’ heart, but only a select few understood its importance to the natives. He clarified how Kunanyi is the Mother Earth to them and their ancestors.

The students and their families witnessed the traditional lighting of a stringy bark to signal the beginning of the event, before the lunch of damper and mutton bird. After lunch, participants listened to storytelling, lessons on the local language, Palawa Kani, and botanical teachings on plants used for cooking or healing.

This year’s theme for the event is “We Stand on Scared Ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate.” This aims to focus on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait people’s spiritual and cultural connection to the land and the sea. As one of the oldest surviving culture in the world, Native Australians have places they consider as sacred. These include bodies of waters like lakes, rivers, beaches and bays, as well as land features such as hills and mountains.

One of the celebration’s highlights, the NAIDOC Awards will be hosted in Adelaide on Friday. On the awards’ night, outstanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait people will be recognised and honoured based on their merits and contributions as artists, academics, sportspeople, seniors and community members.

For more information about upcoming events, information about NAIDOC Week can be accessed on their website.