Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
(L-R) Toni, Jermayne, Natasha, Isaiah and Tessa-Maree
The sights, sounds and flavours of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture returned to the Burdekin on Monday with NAIDOC Week in full swing across the nation.
Local celebrations brought more than 100 people to the selectability lawns for a day replete with island dances, face painting, storytelling, and traditional Indigenous cuisine.
This year's NAIDOC Week theme, 50 Years of Deadly, marks five decades since an entirely Indigenous-led NAIDOC committee was formed.
In keeping with the national theme, the Burdekin celebrations drew salience to the past, while celebrating the present and future for Indigenous peoples in the region and beyond.
Selectability representative Quanita Senior described the occasion as a huge success.
“I couldn’t believe it came together so well. I couldn't take the smile off my face,” she said.
“It was so great to celebrate the Indigenous culture. Culture is something that can be lost, especially the Indigenous culture. Recognising NAIDOC was a great way to show young people who they are, where their Elders came from, and not to lose that.”
The event included entertainment courtesy of Anthony and Toni Solomon, who performed worship music throughout the day.
Evelyn Billy of Bina's Kitchen and Remona Taiters also offered attendees a taste of traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait cuisine, with emu, kangaroo, and crocodile samples all on the menu.
Ms Billy also brought along a dance crew, adding to the day’s entertainment catalogue.
NAIDOC Week has long been embraced by the Burdekin community, with schools, organisations and community groups celebrating the occasion each year.
Monday’s event was the first NAIDOC celebration hosted by Selectability, a joint effort between Ms Senior and Chloe Webb, also part of the selectability team, who approached the former with the idea.
Ms Senior said the event also served as an opportunity to raise community awareness about selectability and its work in the region.
She extended a heartfelt thanks to all involved in bringing the event together.
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