NAIDOC Week 2011

The first week of July was NAIDOC week across all of Australia. Originally, NAIDOC stood for "National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee", a committee that organized national activities during NAIDOC Week. Now, the acronym has since become the name of the week itself, according to the NAIDOC website: http://www.naidoc.org.au. I was lucky enough to be able to attend the 2011 NAIDOC Launch in Inala this year. It was my first opportunity to see the Aboriginal citizens of Inala really embracing their traditional culture through song, dance, dress, and art. Torres Strait Islanders performed in the festivities, as well.


The theme this year was "Change: The Next Step is Ours". It was great to see that this year's nationwide theme reflected the exact sentiments and goals of the Aboriginal citizens in Inala that some avidly voiced during the suicide focus group meeting I attended a few weeks ago--the empowering idea that change must must come from the community members themselves. 

Here is a short clip of the first Aboriginal dance performed. There is live didgeridoo accompaniment in the background! (Technical difficulties! I'm afraid the video won't upload! If anyone has techie advice, please let me know...)

More dancing continued outside to celebrate the opening of Urban Dreaming, an Aboriginal Art Gallery in the Inala City Centre:

Several local counselors attended the NAIDOC launch, and I was able to meet a few of them quickly: 

All the way on the left is Lyn, the amazing woman from The Smith Family who has taken me under her wing and helped to get me involved in Aboriginal mental health issues in Inala. I wouldn't be able to be nearly as informed or even be able to go out to Inala without her help and generosity!

From my first initial introductions to the community, traditional Aboriginal culture seemed almost completely unobservable in everyday Inala life. It was heartwarming to see the community members dancing, singing, clapping, smiling, laughing, and celebrating their cultural roots that all too often get suppressed, as is the case with most indigenous cultures worldwide. While it was not exactly what I expected (I was surprised to find the music being played from an iPod, in the center of a very modern shopping mall, hooked up to an amazing sound system and official stage, decorated with colorful balloons, and the provided food consisting of sub sandwiches and cheese platters), it was truly representative of the "change" Australian Aboriginal communities are having to adapt to and find ways to thrive within. The NAIDOC Launch was a quick glimpse at how Aboriginal traditions can complement a modernized and globalized society when given a welcoming chance.