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Celebrate NAIDOC week in Baw Baw Shire with events, workshops and exhibitions led by local Elders from 3 July 2023

NAIDOC Week in Baw Baw Shire offers events, workshops, and exhibitions led by local Elders, allowing the community to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history, and achievements.

By news@gippsland - 21st June 2023 - Back to News

From basketball to basket weaving, community members are invited to celebrate NAIDOC Week in Baw Baw Shire with a deadly program of events, exhibitions and workshops delivered by and with local Elders.

Baw Baw Shire NAIDOC Week: Elders lead events celebrating Aboriginal culture with sports, weaving, and art starting on 3 July to 9 July 2023

Celebrating Indigenous heritage

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. It is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories, and to participate in celebrations of the oldest continuous live cultures on earth.

NAIDOC week is very special to the Aboriginal people and the community as a whole," says Kurnai Elder Cheryl Drayton. "This is an opportunity to create small projects that will enhance our communities' knowledge, provide the chance for our people to have a go at their traditional activities and further preserve our cultural heritage," she said.

In Baw Baw, people can celebrate NAIDOC Week by taking part in a variety of free and low-cost activities and events delivered by Kurnai Nations and Baw Baw Shire Council.

NAIDOC Week community events

On Monday 3 July, all community members are invited to join council in an official NAIDOC Week opening ceremony from 9.00 am to 10.30am in the West Gippsland Arts Centre forecourt. The event will feature a flag raising, smoking ceremony and welcome to Country, with free coffee and toasties by Coffee Vibes and music by DJ Nige.

The opening ceremony will be followed by a Deadly Hoops basketball game and activities from 11.00am at Drouin's Bellbird Park Stadium. There will be a basketball clinic from 11.00am to 12.30pm, a community match from 12.50pm to 1.30pm and a BBQ lunch and yarning from 1.30pm to 3pm. No registrations are required, all are welcome.

Later in the week, Kurnai Nations will host a variety of Indigenous exhibitions and creative workshops at West Gippsland Arts Centre. Running from Thursday 6 July through Sunday 9 July, there will be basket weaving, possum skin burning, dillybag making, wood burning, clapping sticks, and sketching and painting sessions - all run by local Kurnai Nation elders.

Elders' celebration and performance

There will also be a performance by The Merindas, featuring Ballargong Whadjuk and Nyoongar woman Kristel Kickett and Candice Lorrae of Jawoyn and Thursday Island heritage. "Celebrating our elders is the theme this year and this opportunity is allowing our elders to come together to support the community in celebration and share their knowledge in traditional activities," says Ms Drayton. "This provides us an opportunity to develop a collection, tell our stories and feel proud."

"NAIDOC week serves as a powerful reminder of the richness, resilience, and enduring heritage of our First Nations people," says Mayor of Baw Baw Shire Cr Annemarie McCabe. "Baw Baw Shire Council is pleased to work with and support Kurnai Nations to deliver a program of NAIDOC Week events to bring people together, to listen, learn, and celebrate the vibrant cultures, stories, and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples," says Ms McCabe.

For more information about NAIDOC Week, visit NAIDOC week page. For specific workshop details, times and bookings, please visit West Gippsland Arts Centre website. Each workshop will be capped at 15 participants, so bookings are essential.

Pictures from Baw Baw shire Council Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com