NAIDOC Week (moved from July to 8-15 November this year due to COVID-19) is held annually to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This year’s theme, ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’, recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years.
Elder Aunty Georgina Williams opened today’s Mayor’s Reception with a Greeting to Country, which was followed by a smoking ceremony by Traditional Owner Karl Telfer and a performance by Yellaka “old wisdom – new ways”, followed by Kaurna musician Karno and guest speaker Drew Kilner, and the creation of a clay community artwork by Jannaya Williams and Susan Roberts.
The annual NAIDOC family fun day and march at Christies Beach isn’t being held this year due to COVID-19, but instead a series of videos will be published each weeknight, featuring guest interviews with community members discussing what this year’s NAIDOC theme means to them.
You can view these on the NAIDOC Week in Onkaparinga Facebook event page, as well as the City of Onkaparinga and Neporendi Facebook pages.
Kaurna artist Corey Turner is also leading hands-on art workshops at Woodcroft, Noarlunga and Aldinga Libraries (sold out), which will include a welcome to country, education of the different art styles of mobs across Australia, and a guided painting of a canvas to keep.
Onkaparinga’s NAIDOC Week celebrations will continue after the official week concludes on Sunday.
A series of music tracks produced by local Aboriginal youth as part Southern Deadly Sounds – an Onkaparinga Youth music and mentoring program – will be released on Wednesday 25 November to coincide with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Stay tuned for those on the NAIDOC Week in Onkaparinga Facebook event page, and City of Onkaparinga and Neporendi Facebook pages too.
NAIDOC Week’s website invites all Australians to embrace the true history of this country—a history that dates back thousands of generations.
“It’s about seeing, hearing and learning the First Nations’ 65,000+ year history of this country—which is Australian history,” the site reads.
“We want all Australians to celebrate that we have the oldest continuing cultures on the planet and to recognise that our sovereignty was never ceded.”
ALWAYS WAS, ALWAYS WILL BE
Aunty Georgina Williams and Yellaka