City of Kwinana hosts NAIDOC Week events in honour of elders

The City of Kwinana held its annual NAIDOC Week celebrations in honour of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders in the community. This year’s NAIDOC Week theme For Our Elders recognises the contributions made by elders through their leadership and advocacy for improved outcomes for Aboriginal people. Community-led events in the City of Kwinana celebrated the NAIDOC Week theme with activities for all ages culminating in a Nyoongar Boodja NAIDOC football game. The celebrations took place a week early to allow community members to take in other events in Perth and beyond during national NAIDOC Week (July 2-9). Local celebrations began with a launch at Medina Hall, organised by the Indigenous Institute of Sport and Wellbeing on Monday, June 26, followed by a special event at the Moorditj Kulungars playgroup, a luncheon honouring local elders, The Little Peeps Roller Disco, children’s activities by The Zone Youth Space and more. Mayor Carol Adams, who spoke at the opening event, said the theme For Our Elders celebrated the role elders have and continue to play in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and families. “We can draw strength from their knowledge and experience, in everything from land management, cultural knowledge to justice and human rights,” she said. “Elders carry and nourish the heart of the community, and in Kwinana this is well-known as being a close-knit and supportive community. “Elders play an important role in local communities as a whole and the City of Kwinana is therefore committed to working with elders even more closely, recently elevating the Boola Maara (Many Hands) Advisory Group to a formal committee level of Council. “Elders are knowledge holders, nurturers, survivors, and leaders.”