NAIDOC Week 2024 – Keep the Fire Burning July 7-14

NAIDOC Week 2024 runs 7-14 July, with this years theme Keep the Fire Burning- Blak, Loud and Proud. On Arakwal Country, NAIDOC Week Byron Bay held the sold out 17th Annual Arakwal NAIDOC Week Film Screening, at Byron Theatre, Tuesday July 9. The event was presented by Arakwal Corporation, Flickerfest & iQ Inc for this years NAIDOC theme ‘Keep The Fire Burning! Blak Loud And Proud’.This year’s Indigenous Spotlight programme of Flickerfest favourites is curated from the recent Flickerfest Academy® qualifying Australian competition and will take you on a special journey with some powerful stories, who’s compelling voices will inspire, move and delight.

The filmmakers and film creatives featuring in the 17th Arakwal NAIDOC week screening are some of the leading lights in indigenous film today, blazing brightly on Australian screens and stage.

The programme featured 9 multi award winning short films, including 3 films from Northern Rivers creative teams. Not to miss was the moving personal family drama ‘Djalubuyan Nahra’, shot in New Brighton and across the Northern Rivers by award-winning local First Nations filmmaker Jahvis Loveday and a talented young crew, which tells the poignant true story of his little sister Nahra returning to country, the stunning animation ‘Duwarra Wujarra’ winner of Best Australian animation at Flickerfest 2024, created here in our region by Eltham animation director Brent McKee & animator Craig Martin; plus the contemporary post flood story from One Vision Productions and the Cabbage Tree Island community – ‘Coming Home Cabbage Tree Island’.

Lone Goat Gallery opened the Longstanding Exhibition featuring artists: Bindimu, Sonya Breckenridge, Kylie Caldwell, Kristina Davis, Janelle Duncan, Tracey Duroux, Kim Healey, Wayne King, Arminel Nagas, Jasmin Stanford, Tim Stanford, Shaun Tucker and Jai Walker, Curated by Dr Bronwyn Bancroft with Kylie Caldwell, supported by The Returning, Arts Northern Rivers & Create NSW. The exhibition runs July 6 – August 17, 2024.There was also the annual Honouring Walk held on Thursday to celebrate NAIDOC, which Nickolla Clark, welcomed all the community to join in during her thank you at the Film Screening.

‘NAIDOC Week celebrates and recognises the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. “Locally on the Tweed Coast this means people of the Bundjalung nation; Ngandowal and Minyungbal speaking people of the Bundjalung Country, in particular the Goodjinburra, Tul-gi-gin and Moorung-Moobah clans. “Council’s Community Development Officer Erika Chadburn said

“From the annual march and corroboree in the park to a health and sport expo, Elders cruise, art exhibitions and more, Tweed residents were invited to join in a series of engaging events as part of this year’s NAIDOC Week activities” said Chadburn.

The Tweed Regional Museum has also recently expanded its award-winning Land|Life|Culture display, which highlights the enduring connection of the Tweed Bundjalung people to the land through oral traditions, lore and archaeological evidence. The extended exhibition explores contemporary social history and the fight to protect culture, Aboriginal rights and special places in the Tweed Shire.

Council’s libraries at Tweed Heads, Kingscliff and Murwillumbah will also be featuring NAIDOC-themed displays of Indigenous authors for junior and adult readers.

“This year’s NAIDOC Week was about celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and honouring their culture, histories, strength and resilience” said Chadburn.

“NAIDOC week is always a celebration of Indigenous culture, heritage and people – this year’s theme ‘Keep the fire burning’ is about honouring the work and efforts of local Elders and Indigenous community leaders who have come before us and ensuring their good work continues by celebrating the achievements of our Indigenous people,” Chadburn said.

In Ballina on Nyangbul Country, there was a full program for Elders and Jarjums and everyone in between, with an Elders Luncheon on today, Friday at Cherry Street Sports Club with bunjum Aboriginal Corporation, and a Cultural Family Celeration Gathering with activities such as weaving, dancing, jewellery making and didge playing on yesterday at Missingham Skate Park, and the NAIDOC Celebration walk, an annual event for all to celebrate the oldest living culture in the world, across all our LGA’s well attended.