This week is National NAIDOC week 2021, an important national celebration week for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

NAIDOC week is a time to celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people nationally.

We pay our respects to the Elders past, present and emerging.

The National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) has a dedicated committee that each year runs NAIDOC Week in a different area of the country.

NAIDOC week is a vital event and all members of the community look to plan and celebrate. This year the theme of the NAIDOC week is ‘Heal Country’. This year the members of the NAIDOC week committee wish to reflect and understand the land we live on and celebrate it with pride.

Such community organisations as government agencies, local councils, schools and workplaces show their appreciation and acknowledgement for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This important week calls for us as a community to reflect and acknowledge our cultural heritage which is a very important part of the national history of Australia. Members of the Indigenous community have shared stories about life in remote communities and have been fascinating stories of both history and culture.

This year’s NAIDOC week celebration brings the nation together, in support of healing the country and recognising the cultural knowledge of the First Nations people.

The land we live on holds our ancient ancestors, so it is more important than ever to understand the meaning of ‘Heal Country’.

‘Heal Country’ calls the people globally, physically, emotionally, socially, and culturally. The country that sustains our lives – spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially and culturally is sacred.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have always had a very strong connection to the land. The lands are a source of life, belonging and identity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s their relationship with the land and sea is very sacred and deeply spiritual.

Caring for ‘Country’ is part of who the people are and their identity.

This year the theme of NAIDOC ‘Heal Country’ looks to raise awareness and understanding.

The people of the First Nation have fought hard as the people have been marginalised by leadership, leaderships, which have not acknowledged their rich and deep history, knowledge and culture. They have been displaced from lands. Poor planning and thought in the use of natural resources. Political resistance to their voices in dealing with climate and environmental problems so that way of life for their future is now in severe decline.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the oldest living culture of the planet.

From generation-to-generation cultural knowledge has been passed down in the forms of stories, song, art, and dance and through ceremonies. These ceremonies hold the knowledge of traditions, cultural practices, languages, ancestral beings, law making, and rituals. These are all respected and treasured for the future.

The culture and connection Aboriginal people have had on this land for thousands of years continues to be threatened by mining, pollution and desecration of sacred sites.

We pay our respects and celebrate this special week to unite and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders their culture and traditions.

NAIDOC week is a time of healing and time to reflect for all.

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land. During NAIDOC week celebrations this is a time nationally, to see what events have been organised in their area.

‘Heal Country, heal the nation!’

Reborn the Rose