Representatives of the three Aboriginal Land Councils and Bega Valley Shire Councillors have come together to mark the beginning of NAIDOC Week in the Shire with an exchange of special shirts carrying the NAIDOC theme.
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The National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee had its origins back in the 1920s when emerging Aboriginal groups sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Indigenous Australians.
“This is a great opportunity to pay respects to Country; honour those who work tirelessly on preserving land, sea and culture and to share the stories of many sites of significance or sacred places with the nation,” Bega Valley Shire Mayor, Michael Britten said the week.
“In Bega there will be a community fun day on 8 July at the Bega Showground with traditional arts and crafts skills taught by a NPWS Discovery ranger, talks by elders and school students, face and boomerang painting, a barbecue, entertainment by Aboriginal artists and rides for children.
“Everyone is welcome,” Cr Britten said.
Meanwhile Council’s libraries at Eden, Merimbula, Bega and Bermagui have free copies of Indigenous story books that feature the stories of many local Indigenous people in their own voices.
The Bega Valley Regional Gallery will host a NAIDOC Week film festival with screenings at noon on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 7, 9 and 10 July.
The free screenings will be of some of the most powerful, entertaining and joyous films selected for their significance to the 2015 NAIDOC week theme of standing on sacred ground.
The films are free and will be screened in the Council Chambers at noon from Tuesday July 7 to Friday July 10.
Tuesday’s showing will be ‘The Fringe Dwellers’, while on Thursday ‘Charlie’s Country’ will be shown, and on Friday come along and watch ‘The Sapphires’ on the big screen.