A large group of people gathered in the Civic Centre forecourt, in the centre is a pale of eucalyptus leaves with smoke rising, people are coming forward to
COMMUNITY People from the First Nations and broader communities braved the rainy weather to take part in the NAIDOC Week annual march and flag raising ceremony, including a Smoking Ceremony.
Community

NAIDOC Week celebrated loud and proud in Wagga Wagga

Published: 08 Jul 2024 2:43pm

Celebrations have been held in Wagga Wagga for NAIDOC Week, held annually during the first week of July to recognise and celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

A large group of people marching down the main street of Wagga Wagga. At the front of the group people are holding a large banner that says “NAIDOC Week, 7 – 14 July 2024”.
LOUD AND PROUD NAIDOC Week 2024 was officially launched in Wagga Wagga with the annual march down Baylis Street and the flag raising ceremony held in the Civic Centre forecourt.

Despite the rainy weather on Monday, a large crowd of First Nations people and members of the broader community turned up to the annual march down Baylis Street.

This was followed by the flag raising ceremony in the Civic Centre forecourt, including a Smoking Ceremony conducted by Uncle Hewitt Whyman, and a Welcome to Country by Aunty Isabel Reid.

A First Nations Elder addresses the crowd at a Smoking Ceremony, in the foreground is a pale with eucalyptus leaves from which white smoke is rising.
CLENSING A Smoking Ceremony was conducted by local Elder Uncle Hewitt Whyman during the NAIDOC Week flag raising ceremony

A young First Nations person in traditional dress and wearing ochre on his skin, leans over a pale of eucalyptus leaves from which white smoke is rising, during a Smoking Ceremony.
TRADITION Local Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri person and didgeridoo player for the event, Ryder McDonnell taking part in the Smoking Ceremony.

The Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Australian flags were raised by local young First Nations people Asher Brown, Elizabeth Niki and Angel Kruse.

This year’s NAIDOC Week theme is Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud, which Aunty Isabel Reid expressed the importance of during her Welcome to Country.

“The theme, Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud, has a powerful meaning; it encourages us to speak our truth loudly and proudly about our country’s history,” Aunty Isabel Reid said.

“It acknowledges that our Nation’s story began with the first footprints on this continent belonging to the First Nations people.”

An Elder First Nations woman speaks on a microphone. In the foreground is smoke from a Smoking Ceremony.
LEADER Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri Elder Aunty Isabel Reid conducted the Welcome to Country at the flag raising ceremony.

Deputy Mayor Amelia Parkins and Councillor Jenny McKinnon attended the march and flag raising ceremony, joining Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Dallas Tout who was pleased with the commitment of the community to take part in the event.

“NAIDOC week is an important week for all Australians, and it was great to once again see a large turnout for the march and flag raising ceremony, despite the rainy weather,” Cr Tout said.

“Every year, First Nations people and members of the broader community, led by Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri community members, participate in the NAIDOC Week events held in Wagga Wagga, which is great to see.”

Young people raise the Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags in front of a large crowd.
FUTURE LEADERS Local young people participated in the flag raising ceremony; Angel Krause from Kooringal High School raised the Australian Flag, Asher Brown from Kooringal High School raised the Aboriginal Flag and Elizabeth Niki from Mount Austin High School raised the Torres Strait Islander flag.

All members of the community attended NAIDOC Week celebrations throughout the week, which included community events, BBQs, arts and crafts, a talent quest, trivia, and a 3x3 Basketball Gala Day.