NAIDOC honours Aboriginal elders

“Honouring our elders, nurturing our young” is the central theme for this year’s NAIDOC Week in Sydney.
National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) week celebrates the history and culture of Indigenous communities across Australia from 5 to 12 July.
“NAIDOC Week provides an opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to join together to recognise the valuable contribution Indigenous people have made to this country,” said NAIDOC committee co-chairperson Anne Martin.
She said that the importance of elders in Indigenous communities should be celebrated for the role they play in providing guidance to young people.
NAIDOC events in Sydney include a film night featuring a collection of local and indigenous films, a discussion about the Apology and a number of culture and history seminars.
Many events focus on supporting Indigenous youths and developing familial ties, with basketball competitions, family days and youth cultural development workshops.
The winner of this year’s NAIDOC poster competition, Nick Mallie, said that he was happy to be able to contribute to the celebrations of the week.
The artwork, titled Carrying On Our Culture, was painted using a watercolour background with acrylics and ink, and depicts two aboriginal elders and a spirit watching over several youths.
“It represents the elders teaching and keeping watch over their young as they learn and grow into adults to then carry on the culture,” he said.
Ms Martin was also pleased with having Mr Mallie’s artwork as the poster for NAIDOC this year, and said: “It really sums up the NAIDOC theme with the way it shows the transition of people from youth to adult to elder, along the way nurtured, educated and guided by our elders.”
Non Indigenous Australians are also welcome to NAIDOC, with events such as cultural awareness training on how to communicate effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
The Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, said over the years NAIDOC has become a way to bring the whole of Australian society together.
“NAIDOC Week provides an opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to join together to recognise the valuable contribution Indigenous people have made to this country.”