2023 NAIDOC Week to be Celebrated Across the Coorong

Celebrations of First Nations history, heritage and culture will once again take place across the Coorong in the first week of July as part of this year’s NAIDOC Week festivities.

Local communities across the Coorong District Council are invited to participate in the 2023 NAIDOC week celebrations being held from 4-6 July 2023 at Tailem Bend, Tintinara and Meningie.

“NAIDOC Week is a celebration of our community immersing themselves in First Nations culture and participating in a range of activities to support our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,” says Coorong District Council Mayor Paul Simmons.

Coorong District Council will partner with both the Tintinara and Meningie Area Schools to offer a range of cultural activities and community BBQ’s, and a morning tea and flag raising ceremony at Tailem Bend.

This year’s theme “For our Elders” celebrates the important role Elders have played and continue to play across our communities. Recognised as cultural knowledge holders, trailblazers, nurturers, advocates, teachers, survivors, leaders, hard workers and loved ones, Elders in our communities are being acknowledged and paid homage.

“A unique opportunity that I am looking forward to this year is the ‘Living Libraries’ session at the Meningie Area School, where some of the Ngarrindjeri Elders have graciously agreed to tell stories to the school students and share their history and culture,” says Mayor Simmons.

Each year NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is celebrated not only by First Nations people, but by Australians from all walks of life.

NAIDOC 2023 invites the nation to embrace First Nations’ cultural knowledge and understanding of Country as part of Australia's national heritage and equally respect the culture and values of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders, as they do the cultures and values of all Australians.

For more information on 2023 NAIDOC Week events, community members can contact the Community Development Team on 1300 785 277.

2023 NAIDOC WEEK EVENTS

The community are invited to come and celebrate 2023 NAIDOC Week:

• Tuesday 4 July, 9am – 11am, Tailem Bend Town Hall, Railway Terrace
  Flag raising and morning tea

• Wednesday 5 July, 11:30am – 1pm, Tintinara War Memorial Hall, Becker Terrace
  Cultural activities and community sausage sizzle

• Thursday 6 July, 11am – 1:30pm, Meningie Area School, North Terrace
  Cultural activities and Community BBQ

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Contact:

Bridget Mather
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | COORONG DISTRICT COUNCIL
Phone: 1300 785 277 | E: council@coorong.sa.gov.au