2016 NAIDOC Week celebrations

Published on 28 June 2016

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Mildura Rural City Council will join in national celebrations to recognise our local Indigenous communities as part of NAIDOC Week celebrations next week. 

This year’s theme, Songlines: The living narrative of our nation looks at the Dreamtime stories and the Dreaming Tracks or Songlines that record the travels of ancestral spirits who sung the land into life.  The Songlines are the maps of the land and sea and are often mirrored in the sky, which helped our First peoples to navigate.

Once again this year Council has joined with Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS) and the Mildura NAIDOC Committee to host the official NAIDOC Flag Raising ceremony, with proceedings starting at 10 am in front of MDAS’s Orange Avenue Health Services building on Monday 4 July.

Mayor Glenn Milne said the ceremony will include Welcome to Country and a traditional smoking ceremony, starting at MDAS and then proceeding to Council’s Madden Avenue building before then heading to the City Heart.

“All the community is invited to attend the ceremony and the following activities in the City Heart. One of the greatest aspects of NAIDOC week is the inclusive nature of these celebrations,” Cr Milne said. “This is a whole community celebration.”

“NAIDOC Week is an important date in our local calendar,” said Cr Milne “It represents both a symbolic and practical way to honour the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“As an organisation Council recognises the Indigenous history of our land and we know our community is richer because of the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” he said.

Activities in the Mall will start at 11am with entertainment, market stalls, face-painting, environmental and historical displays, arts and crafts and of course, lots of food.  

In addition to the events being held on Monday 4 July, local organisers have a host of activities running throughout the week.

 “Once again NAIDOC celebrations will include a “Welcome Baby to Country” ceremony at the Mildura Arts Centre on Thursday 7 July.”

Welcome Baby to Country” is a very popular celebration hosted by Mildura Arts Centre and Monash University and recognises traditional owners by ensuring all new Koorie babies are traditionally ‘welcomed’ to this country and this community."

People can find out more about NAIDOC week at www.naidoc.org.au

ENDS


Media enquiries
Angela Umback
p) (03) 5018 8689
e) angela.umback@mildura.vic.gov.au

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