As we enter NAIDOC (National Aboriginal & Islanders Day of Celebration) Week, 7 – 14 July, we celebrate firstly the resilience and strength of our First Nations sisters and brothers. As we pay our respect to the longevity of their culture, the languages that have persisted, the arts and story and lore that continue to speak of country and being and speak such prescient wisdom into our lives today.
As Common Grace encourage here, “Their encouragement to not give up, to engage, and join their efforts to bring urgent change through justice, truth-telling, treaty and genuine relationship. Non-Indigenous Australians can support by showing up, by listening, learning, and amplifying First Nations voices – this is how we add logs to the fire. May we take actions together to keep the flame of justice, truth and hope burning so all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, now and into the future, are safe, free and flourishing.”
This year’s NAIDOC Week theme of ‘Keep the Fire Burning: Blak, Loud and Proud’ points us to the important opportunity to reflect on the strength of First Nations leadership and ways we can all be involved in keeping the fire burning for justice, truth and hope.
Find out about NAIDOC Week community events in Warrane/Sydney here and following:
NAIDOC in the City
Wednesday 10 July from 11am to 9:30pm Sydney Town Hall
A celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and enterprise featuring music, dance, song, crafts, arts and products and services from First Nations businesses.
Inner City NAIDOC Family Fun Day
Thursday 11th July, 10am – 4pm, Carriageworks
Inner City NAIDOC Family Fun Day is organised by the Eora NAIDOC Community Group this event will feature performers of Aboriginal Dancers, Singer Songwriters, Musicians, Bands, Elders Tent, Jarjum Activities, BBQ Lunch and more!
NAIDOC at Centennial Parklands
Sunday 14 July, 3-5pm Loch Ave S, behind Wild Play
Join Djaadjawan Dance and Culture Group for an afternoon of dance, weaving, and shell art workshops around the campfire. Don’t miss their immersive Welcome to Country, listen to their stories and join into their cultural presentations at the 2-hrs workshops. Around sunset, follow Centennial Park’s educators on a tour around the wetlands that are home to the Flying Fox colony and many other nocturnal animals. Book now – your ticket is a voucher for 1 hot drink at the event served by Tricksta the Barrista.
AUSTRALIAN WARS
The story of Australia’s longest and perhaps most defining war has been kept silent – until now. Over three parts, this ground-breaking documentary series gives voice to the story of The Australian Wars – the battles fought on home soil, as the colonial frontier pushed forward, and First Nations peoples resisted. Watch here.
Raise The Age!
The Parliamentary Committee holding the Inquiry into community safety in regional and rural communities published our Raise the Age NSW submission. Now it’s over to you to make sure this submission gets the attention it deserves. You can read the full submission here.