NAIDOC Week will stretch from 2 – 9 July and the theme will be ‘For Our Elders’.
The funding provided under the Aboriginal Affairs NSW NAIDOC Grants Program attracted 206 submissions across the state, up by 77 from last year.
Some of the grants issued include funding towards the popular Souths Cares NAIDOC Festival in Maroubra, flag-raising ceremonies, a Community Day at the Armidale and Region Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place and a traditional food day hosted by Jubullum Local Aboriginal Land Council.
One grant recipient, Murrin Bridge Preschool Association in Western NSW, is using its funding to plant trees for each of its Elders to signify how important they are to their community.
This year’s theme ‘For Our Elders’ reminds us all to value First Nations Elders and the incredible role they play, and will continue to play to hold the cultural knowledge and lead community.
Elders have played a huge role across generations of thousands of years of Indigenous culture, as knowledge holders, trail blazers, teachers and nurturers.
This NAIDOC Week we pay homage to this important role and those who came before who paved the way for the present and future.
David Harris, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty said:
‘I’m thrilled that we are able to play a part in ensuring NAIDOC Week is a success for the community, given the hard work that goes into preparing for and hosting such events.
“I look forward to attending as many of these events as I can and meeting with community members from all over the state.’
“NAIDOC Week celebrates the proud history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and is embraced by Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities around the country.
“It is an opportunity for all of us to come together to celebrate the resilience, rich heritage and ongoing contributions of the oldest continuous cultures on earth.”
Leanne Smith, Murrin Bridge Preschool Association President said:
“Building resilience and giving ownership back to our community is of great importance. Our Elders will be remembered by the trees planted and the plaques placed near them to symbolise the three mobs and Murrin Bridge.
