The whole Mandurah community is invited to head to the Eastern Foreshore on Monday, July 6 and join the local celebrations for NAIDOC Week 2015.
This community event, organised by the NAIDOC committee under the guidance of the Bindjareb Aboriginal Interagency Network (BAIN) and supported by the City of Mandurah, provides many ways for people to get involved.
At 4pm there will be a community walk from the Eastern Foreshore rotunda to Mandjar Square for the flag raising ceremony at 4.30pm.
From 5pm at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre there will be a range of exciting activities.
This includes a community dinner with locally sourced cultural cuisine, family activities and entertainment by Dewayne Everettsmith and the Yabu Band.
The winner of the annual Bindjareb Art Awards will also be announced.
This year’s national NAIDOC theme is ‘We all stand on sacred ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate’, which highlights the strong spiritual and cultural connection that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have to land and sea.
NAIDOC Week (July 5-12) will be celebrated with hundreds of events across Australia, providing many opportunities for people to come together to recognise the valuable contribution Indigenous people have made to this country.
Deputy Mayor Darren Lee said the City of Mandurah was proud to be involved in NAIDOC Week and to work with local Aboriginal people to make this event possible.
“NAIDOC Week is a very significant event for our community as it helps people to learn about, experience and celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” he said.
“Through the City’s Reconciliation Action Plan, we realise the importance of working together with our Aboriginal community to bring about positive change and to nurture our bonds and relationships.
“I would encourage all Mandurah residents, and visitors, to get involved in the NAIDOC celebrations and learn more about this wonderful culture – one of the oldest on the earth.”
Mandurah’s NAIDOC Week event will also include two exciting workshops at the Sebel Hotel on Monday. They are:
Song writing workshop with the Yabu Band, 12.30pm-1.30pm
Dance workshop with Binjareeb Middars, 1.30pm-2.30pm
All are welcome to the workshops.
Contact Jenni Burmaz on 9550 3712 or jenni.burmaz@mandurah.wa.gov.au to register.
To find out more about Mandurah’s NAIDOC celebrations, go to mandurah.wa.gov.au/events.htm
