Celebrate NAIDOC week!

NAIDOC week is now well underway, and celebrations are happening all over Australia. The theme for 2013 is "We value the vision: Yirrkala Bark Petitions 1963".  The theme proudly celebrates the 50th anniversary of the presentation of the Yirrkala Bark Petitions to the Federal Parliament. To read more about the significance of these petitions visit the official NAIDOC website.

There are a huge number of events going on across the Yamatji and Pilbara regions to celebrate NAIDOC this week. Check your local paper for a listing of events. Some highlights will be the Ngarluma & Yindjibarndi Foundation Ltd's football carnival in Roebourne this weekend, free community events featuring food and music in Karratha on Friday and Sunday, and the NAIDOC awards celebration in South Hedland on Saturday, to name just a few.

YMAC has already been celebrating NAIDOC, with stalls at the Tom Price and Perth opening ceremonies on Sunday, as well as last week's Bundiyarra cultural celebrations in Geraldton.

If you are in Karratha or South Hedland this week come say hello to YMAC staff at the community events on there.



Dawn service to commemorate 100 years of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Veterans in Service. 7 July 2013

YMAC stall at Bundiyarra cultural celebrations in Geraldton. 3 July 2013 

Nominations for 2013 Mid West NAIDOC Awards closing soon

 

Do you know someone who deserves a NAIDOC award?

Time to get those submissions in, as nominations for the 2013 Mid West NAIDOC Awards close 5pm tomorrow, Friday 21 June.

The annual awards recognise outstanding achievements made by Indigenous Australians to improve the lives of Indigenous people, or promote Indigenous issues in the wider community.

If you know someone in your community who deserves to be recognised for their contribution, complete a nomination form in one of the following categories:

• Scholar of the Year
• Male Community Service of the Year
• Female Community Service of the Year
• Apprenticeship Award
• Musician of the Year
• Artist of the Year
• Hall of Fame
• Male Elder of the Year
• Female Elder of the Year
• Reconciliation Award
• Community Service Volunteer
• Youth of the Year
• Non-Indigenous Male Person of the Year
• Non-Indigenous Female Person of the Year
• Sportsperson of the Year

Nominations can be obtained from Laine-Rose Forsyth at the Geraldton Regional Community Education Centre by emailing laine@edcentre.wa.edu.au

For more information about NAIDOC Week 2013, visit the NAIDOC website.

NAIDOC Week 2013 starts early in Perth with Marnda Week

This year's NAIDOC Week celebrations are starting early in Perth with 'Marnda Week', a three-day celebration of Australian Aboriginal culture organised by the West Australian Student Aboriginal Corporation (WASAC).

Marnda kicks off tomorrow at the University of Western Australia, and will be comprised of three main events throughout the week: 

- a cultural showcase on the UWA Oak Lawn on Tuesday 21st May from 12-2pm

- a footy match on UWA's James Oval on Wednesday 22nd May from 12-2pm

- an art exhibition this Friday evening at YMCA Leederville

All activities and events are free, and all members of the community are encouraged to attend. 

To get involved, or for more information including a run down of activities taking place on each day, please visit the Marnda facebook group.