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This is a free event open to all people in Perth.
Please spread the word and join in our celebrations
and culture.
Purpose
The NAIDOC
Week Opening Ceremony has four key purposes:
- officially open NAIDOC week celebrations in Perth
with a flag raising ceremony and Welcome to Country;
- present the winners of the NAIDOC Perth Awards;
- showcase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
music and dance; and
- promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
services, organisations and businesses with community
stalls.
The event
will be alcohol and drug free, with families encouraged
to attend through the provision of children’s
activities. It will also be a day of ‘healing’,
with respect to the Sorry Day Apology that Prime Minister
Kevin Rudd nationally made to Aboriginal Stolen Generations
on 13 February 2008. Key Aboriginal agencies will
be involved to provide referrals for counselling and
healing. Other agencies and businesses will promote
their services.
If
your organisation is interested in hosting a stall
at the Opening Ceremony, click
here for further information.
Event
In 2008,
we plan for the formalities of the Opening Ceremony
to occur in the first one to two hours. The remainder
of the event will be dedicated to music and dance
and will allow people to wander around the stalls
and participate in activities.
We anticipate
the Opening Ceremony will follow the following format:
- Main
dance group – performance of a traditional
Noongar Healing dance to encourage the Healing of
our country and people.
- Didgeridoo
players to signal the Welcome to Country.
- Noongar
elders to perform Welcome to Country in Noongar
language.
- Master
of Ceremonies and NAIDOC Perth Chairperson to officially
Open NAIDOC Week in Perth and acknowledge elders
and dignitaries and welcome community members.
- Representative
from WA State Government and City of Perth to respond
to Welcome.
- Raising
of the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Australian
Flags.
- Performance
by a Dance group.
- Presentation
of NAIDOC Perth Award winners (pre-recorded).
- Entertainment
including bands, singers and dance groups to play
for the rest of the afternoon.
*
Please note that this information is subject to change,
and will be updated as necessary.
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