Cadigal was proud to join those celebrating NAIDOC Week 2024, honouring the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Held across the country from 7-14th July, the theme chosen by the National NAIDOC Committee for this year’s NAIDOC Week is ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud’. This theme honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture, as fire is a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Throughout the week, we engaged in various activities and events to learn, celebrate, and support Indigenous culture.
On Tuesday, we joined spectators at Brookfield Place to view Gawura Cultural Immersions delivering a captivating live dance performance. Gawura Cultural Immersions specialise in traditional Dharug song and dance, representing the custodians of modern-day Sydney.
On Wednesday afternoon, Cadigal attended a performance by Steve Trist and his team at 388 George Street. Steve Trist is a proud Darug and Muruwarri man who specialises in cultural education, visual art, traditional ceremonies and dance workshops which immerse people in First Nations history and culture.
Later, we participated in an informative webinar with Aunty Munya Andrews and Carla Rogers, co-Directors of Evolve Communities. Aunty Munya and Carla discussed the importance of preservation of culture, learnings from Indigenous wisdom, and commitment to allyship.
On Friday afternoon, our team joined Emma Gibbens and Rhys Paddick from ‘Acknowledge This!’ in an online discussion exploring cultural understanding and the delivery of a meaningful Acknowledgment to Country.
The Cadigal team were delighted to come together to celebrate and uplift the voices and stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, not just this week, but every day.