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.
NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year 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.Kurnai Elder Cheryl Drayton said the week was very special to the Aboriginal people and the community.
"This is an opportunity to create small projects that will enhance our community's knowledge, provide the chance for our people to have a go at their traditional activities and further preserve our cultural heritage," she said.
"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.
"This provides us an opportunity to develop a collection, tell our stories and feel proud."
People can celebrate NAIDOC Week locally by taking part in a variety of free and low-cost activities and events delivered by Kurnai Nations and Baw Baw Shire Council.
An official opening ceremony will be held on Monday, July 3 at the West Gippsland Arts Centre forecourt from 9am to 10.30am.
The event will feature a flag raising, smoking ceremony and a 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 11am at Bellbird Park Stadium. There also will be a basketball clinic from 11am to 12.30pm, a community match from 12.50pm to 1.30pm and a barbecue lunch from 1.30pm to 3pm. No registrations are required and all are welcome.
Later in the week, Kurnai Nations will host a variety of Indigenous exhibitions and creative workshops at West Gippsland Arts Centre, including basket weaving, possum skin burning, dilly bag making, wood burning, clapping sticks, and sketching and painting sessions – all run by local Kurnai Nation elders.
To find out more about NAIDOC Week in the Baw Baw Shire visit www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au