By REBECCA STONE
NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islander Day Observation Committee) week celebrations took place on Friday 19 July at the Duval High School assembly.
With the help of Ben Venue Primary School, friends, family and the wider community came together to recognise an integral part of Australia’s history.
The NAIDOC legacy dates back to the early 20th century when Aboriginal rights groups boycotted Australia Day celebrations in protest against the status and treatment of Indigenous Australians by non-Indigenous Australians.
Duval High School’s Acting Aboriginal Education Officer Leonie Widders-Donovan says the month-long NAIDOC celebrations are an important commemoration and recognition of the Aboriginal community.
“It is very important that we celebrate our culture, and we have a good reason to,” Mrs Widders-Donovan said.
“Especially for the up-and-coming generation that need to keep the culture going.
“There is something celebrated almost weekly in Australia, and NAIDOC week is our time.”
The assembly opened with a welcoming dance by Ben Venue Public School students, providing a visual insight into the Indigenous culture.
Duval students Tamarla Smith, Matt Carey and Narree Pittman presented the history of NAIDOC week and the 2013 theme ‘We value the vision’- Yirrkala Bark Petitions 1963.
Many more of the Duval students both Indigenous and non-Indigenous also took part preparing the event behind the scenes.
“It is important for the students to be involved in coordinating the assembly, to express themselves, and to share with their fellow classmates, and the community,” Leonie said.
“Aboriginal kids today need more cultural awareness. However at the same time we want them to be students, which is why the opportunities will be given to them to take ownership of NAIDOC week and other Indigenous issues that affect them during their school years.”
Leonie explained that the aim of the assembly was to not only celebrate, but to break cultural barriers and to educate the community about NAIDOC and other Indigenous issues.
“We were given a great opportunity to do this today through our special NAIDOC assembly.”
