NAIDOC Week will begin with a traditional flag-raising and awards ceremony at Adelaide Town Hall today. The week’s celebrations run nationally from the 4-11 July, advocating this year’s theme ‘Unsung Heroes – Closing the Gap by Leading Their Way’.
Deputy Lord Mayor Michael Henningsen will host the ceremony in recognition and celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in South Australia. Chairman of NAIDOC South Australia Mr Richard King and NAIDOC Ambassadors Professor Roger Thomas and Uncle Lewis O’Brien will present the 2010 South Australian NAIDOC awards. Some of the awards announced today will be for Elder of the Year, Artist of the Year, Person of the Year and Event of the Year.
The raising of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flag will take place on the balcony of Adelaide Town Hall. Deputy Lord Mayor along with Uncle Lewis O’Brien will raise the flag, which symbolises reconciliation and hope for many Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people throughout Australia.
Deputy Lord Mayor is honoured to stand in for Lord Mayor Michael Harbison, who is in Penang this week for a significant celebration with one of Adelaide City Council’s Sister Cities.
“NAIDOC Week is an annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievement, and we are proud that today’s flag-raising and awards ceremony is so significant,” he said.
“Our Council is a national leader in reconciliation, supporting a number of initiatives through our Reconciliation Committee and the Reconciliation Action Plan.”
Adelaide City Council developed a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) with a framework designed to turn good intentions into measurable action towards reconciliation and closing the gap. Council endorsed a RAP in 2009 consolidating Council’s long-standing commitment to reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Through the Reconciliation Action Plan, Council have made a positive impact on reconciliation through a range of opportunities. The flag-raising ceremony is one of the most important reconciliation events, that each year officially marks the beginning of NAIDOC Week.
Another highlight of the NAIDOC celebrations is the NAIDOC Exhibition at Adelaide Town Hall each year displaying art works from Aboriginal artists. This year the exhibition runs until 23 July, featuring artists Nikki Carabetta and Julie Tucker Hughes.
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