Smoking ceremony the focus of One Day in Fremantle

A traditional smoking ceremony at Bathers Beach will be the focus of the One Day in Fremantle event for 2021.

One Day 2021 will be held on Sunday 24 January at the Bathers Beach and Kidogo Arthouse precinct.

The smoking ceremony will start at 8am and will be followed by Nyumbi – a Nyoongar celebration dance.

There will also be a community barbecue and music at Kidogo Arthouse after the smoking ceremony.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said COVID-19 meant One Day 2021 would have to be quite different to previous years.

“Due to Health Department requirements around public gatherings and social distancing One Day this year will be on a much smaller scale, with a focus on the morning smoking ceremony,” Mayor Pettitt said.

“It’s also true that COVID-19 has had a big impact on the local community, so a decision was made last year to redirect the budget for One Day into a program of Neighbourhood Quick Response Grants to help community groups recover from COVID.

“But even though One Day will be smaller this year, it will be no less meaningful.

“The smoking ceremony is always a very powerful and moving experience, while the Nyumbi afterwards will encourage everyone to join in the dance and have some fun.”

The City of Fremantle first hosted One Day in January 2017 as an inclusive, family-friendly event in which all people could come together to celebrate what’s great about being Australian.

In 2019 One Day in Fremantle received an Australian Government award for promoting Indigenous recognition.

The 2019 event was also recognised as one of the best events in Western Australia when it was named as a state finalist in the Best Community Event category at the prestigious Australian Event Awards.

The City of Fremantle will host a citizenship ceremony and announce its Citizen of the Year Awards on 26 January.