Get up! Stand up! Show up! In 2022, the City of Cockburn will host its first community event to celebrate National NAIDOC Week (3-10 July).
The free family-friendly event will be held in the hall at the Len Packham Reserve Clubrooms, 96 Cordelia Avenue in Coolbellup 11am-2pm on Tuesday 5 July.
The day before, on Monday 4 July, the City will hold its annual flag-raising ceremony, Welcome to Country and community breakfast at its Spearwood Administration Centre, 9 Coleville Crescent, 8.30-10am.
Guest Speakers at the sit-down breakfast will be Miss and Mr NAIDOC Perth Runners Up 2022, Minang Yok Kalisha Krakouer from the Wagyl Kaip (Great Southern) region and Noongar Marmun Thomas Betts from Boorloo (Perth), who will share their journey as Aboriginal people growing up and living in WA.
People interested in attending the breakfast should register a place by 1 July by calling 08 9411 3444 or emailing
[email protected]
The inaugural family event on Tuesday 5 July is open to people of all ages and will include a Welcome to Country, Didgeridoo playing, cultural art and craft activities, face painting, a variety of games and activities from Froggy’s on the Green, food, and a raffle.
This year, the City will display official NAIDOC Week artwork on two of its CoSafe and Ranger patrol vehicles, to join in the celebration and recognition of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Cockburn Libraries also has several activities planned, including decals featuring the designs of Wandandi Noongar and Ait Koedhal (Torres Strait Islander) multidisciplinary artist and graphic designer Tyrown Waigana adorning the entry doors to Success, Coolbellup and Spearwood libraries.
Spearwood Library will host an adult weaving workshop by local internationally recognised Aboriginal artist Sharyn Egan on 7 July, with participants creating native animal totems. Tickets are available at the Eventbrite
website.
A host of school holiday activities for children of all ages to mark NAIDOC Week will be held at Cockburn Libraries from 4-15 July. Some of these include bush tucker tasting, storytelling with Digeridoo, and Wagyl mural and weaving sessions. Find out more at the Cockburn Libraries
website.
City of Cockburn Aboriginal Community Development Officer Marlee Kickett said National NAIDOC Week was a significant annual event for Cockburn’s First Nations community.
“The City has held an annual NAIDOC flag-raising event for many years but this is the first time we have held a community event for families and people of all ages. We hope everyone comes down for a yarn and to enjoy the celebrations,” Ms Kickett said.
“We’re really excited to bring these events to our community, to celebrate this special week. It marks the ongoing strength and culture that is alive and well in our First Nations communities both here in Cockburn and across the nation.”
City of Cockburn Head of Community Safety and Ranger Services, Mike Emery, said the City’s Ranger and CoSafe services worked closely with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and were proud to display the NAIDOC Week artwork on City vehicles.
“It’s a small but visible way to share the NAIDOC Week story and demonstrate our solidarity with our local First Nations community. We’re really proud to display the artwork and celebrate First Nations heritage in this way,” Mr Emery said.
Find out more about these NAIDOC events on the City’s
website.
The origins of NAIDOC can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. For more information visit the National NAIDOC Week 2022
website.