As NAIDOC Week 2022 commences, residents across the Central Coast can celebrate and acknowledge the continued history, culture, excellence and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country.
NAIDOC Week occurs annually from the first Sunday in July in a weeklong celebration of the world’s longest surviving culture. This year NAIDOC Week will be held from 3-10 July and the theme is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Adam Crouch expressed the significance of NAIDOC Week as people of all walks of life get to come together to learn and celebrate the oldest, continuing culture on the planet.
“I encourage all people to get involved in local NAIDOC Week celebrations. NAIDOC Week 2022 is such an important and momentous occasion to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our community,” Mr Crouch said.
“This week gives us all the opportunity to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations acknowledging the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across our region.”
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Ben Franklin said NAIDOC Week is a significant week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“NAIDOC Week this year will be back bigger and better than ever. Due to the impact of COVID-19 restrictions over the past two years, many NAIDOC events were postponed or cancelled,” Mr Franklin said.
“Aboriginal communities are looking forward to the return of a full NAIDOC Week program and the opportunity to showcase their strong culture and remarkable achievements, while celebrating connection and historic rituals, dance and performance.”
Chief Executive Officer of Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council, Brendan Moyle said Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council welcomed NAIDOC Week in 2022 and the Government’s support for the local Central Coast community to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories and excellence.
“This is auspicious for us on Darkinjung country as the 2021 ABS Census has shown that the Aboriginal population has grown here on the Central Coast by 36.6 per cent to over 17,000 people,” Mr Moyle said.
“For many of us coming from other places, we are connected by our creation stories that recognises the sky father Biayami came down from the Mirrabooka (the Milky Way) at what is now known as Mount Yengo. He created life and lived with the people to give us culture, lore, language and kinship. When he returned to the stars, he left his spirits here that transformed into animals and became our totems.
“The mountains across what is now known as the Central Coast became a central point of ceremony for our collective creation stories, drawing together mob from Darkinjung, Guringay from the Hunter, Wonnarua from the upper Hunter, Kamilario/Gomeroi from the northern plains, Wiradjuri from Central NSW, and Gayamaygal, Garigal, and Darramurragal from Northern Sydney among many other nations.
“These mob would come together here to practice ceremony for thousands of years, and it is fitting that we again come together as Australians on the Central Coast to celebrate NAIDOC Week and our continued connections to Darkinjung country.”
For more information about National NAIDOC Week, visit www.naidoc.org.au.