On the first week of July each year, we celebrate possibly one of the most important facets of our history. Remembering a culture, the longest continuing culture as a matter of fact. It is crucial that we continue this tradition, to remind us of the importance of heritage – NAIDOC Week.
NAIDOC Week is celebrated each and every year, to remember the importance of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. The theme for this year’s NAIDOC Week is For Our Elders.
This year, Kegworth is taking part in a special way. We are going to celebrate the continuing Aboriginal culture and had a special guest, Aunty Theresa, a young Aboriginal Elder, come to our school to talk about oral traditions to help us discover what this represents for us.
Children from Kindergarten to Year 6 took part in this incursion, so now everyone has a degree of knowledge and understanding about our very own history. It was thrilling to be part of an event like this.
We interviewed Aunty Theresa about the importance of NAIDOC Week.
Press Gang: What do you like about NAIDOC Week?
Aunty Theresa: I love that each year there is a new theme. Especially this year’s theme, For Our Elders, because it is so significant. Elders are the true storytellers who pass on all the cultural connections over thousands of generations. Other themes give different messages as well, and they all matter, for their own separate reasons.
Press Gang: How do you think the kids in Kegworth should join in in celebrating NAIDOC Week?
Aunty Theresa: It’s great to speak about different cultures, and the importance of Elders. We need to share with primary schools the different ways of explaining and representing this. For example, everyone’s story is different, everyone looks up to different elders and have different lifestyles.
Press Gang: You yourself are an Elder, but when you need guidance, who do you look up to?
Aunty Theresa: I would look up to my family, or other Elders who have the true knowledge. To be honest, they don’t have to be an Elder, anyone who has the intelligence and guidance to lead me or others, and understands the deep, rich culture.
The NAIDOC Week theme, For Our Elders is more than words. It challenges you, to wonder, to ponder on our past. It challenges you, to learn from our history. But most of all, it challenges you to admire and seek guidance from our Elders, no matter who you are.
I hope that everyone takes part in this event, or at least spends some time thinking of it, because it matters. To everyone. No matter where you come from.
Sometimes, amongst all the other days of the year, we forget about the major ones. The ones we look forward to. The ones that mean a lot to us. And I want this article to challenge you to take part in NAIDOC Week.
