NAIDOC Week kicked off with a flag-raising ceremony outside Griffith City Council Chambers on Monday.
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Around 50 people attended the ceremony.
Deputy mayor Doug Curran declared NAIDOC Week officially open in Griffith and raised the Australian Aboriginal flag alongside Aunty Gloria Goolagong and Beverley Johnson.
Cr Curran praised the work the Aboriginal community do within the local community.
He also spoke of the significance the week holds within the Griffith community.
Ms Goolagong gave the Welcome to Country to start proceedings, before Griffith City Council Aboriginal liaison officer Roger Penrith spoke about the meaning of NAIDOC Week.
“NAIDOC week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” Mr Penrith said.
“The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support the local Aboriginal community.”
The National NAIDOC theme for 2015 is: We all Stand on Sacred Ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate.
This year the theme highlights Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ strong spiritual and cultural connection to land and sea.
The theme is an opportunity to pay respects to country and to honour those who work tirelessly on preserving land, sea and culture.
It is also a chance to share the stories of many sites of significance or sacred places with the nation.
Sacred sites in our region include Koonadan, Warangesda, Three Ways, Frog’s Hollow, Mungo National Park and Burrunjuck Swamp amongst others.
Mr Penrith touched on these sacred places, along with the theme and the importance of these sites.
“I have only scratched the surface of sacred places,” Mr Penrith said.
“We all need to be mindful of these significant places, everyone, that includes our youth.
“We have an obligation to teach them so they learn, respect and celebrate these special places.”
Ms Goolagong said that the week is about acknowledgement and for the whole community to come together.
“It’s a very special time for all of our community to get together and bring every community (in Griffith), into the one session,” she said.
Griffith Aboriginal Medical Service will hold a NAIDOC Week family fun day on Thursday at West End Stadium and Oval from 10am to 3pm.
There will be an Elder’s tent, face painting, a petting zoo, jumping castle, arts and crafts and traditional indigenous games.