NAIDOC event offers celebration and participation

Redlands Coast will come alive with all the vibrancy, voices and vitality of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture during the NAIDOC Cultural Celebration on 7 August.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said she was delighted the free event was back on after being postponed at the start of NAIDOC Week on 4 July due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“It will be a morning of celebration, with performances and exhibitions from some of our area’s most-acclaimed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander singers, dancers and artists,” Cr Williams said.

The NAIDOC Cultural Celebration will be held on Saturday, 7 August, from 9am to 1pm at Raby Bay Harbour Park, Cleveland.

Cr Williams said there would be plenty of opportunities to actively participate on the day.

“There will be arts and crafts activities including weaving workshops, and there will be cultural demonstrations by Quandamooka man Matt Burns,” she said.

“This year, NAIDOC Week – which started on 4 July and continues until this Sunday, 11 July –  invites us to embrace First Nations’ cultural knowledge and understanding of Country as part of Australia’s national heritage under the theme of Heal Country.

“This is about us all working to protect lands, waters, sacred sites and cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration and destruction.

“NAIDOC Week also marks the 10-year anniversary of when the Federal Court of Australia made two native title consent determinations recognising the Quandamooka People’s native title rights and interests in regards North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah).

“On 4 July, 2011, Redland City Council and the Quandamooka People signed an historic Indigenous Land Use Agreement, setting out broad principles and mechanisms for how the parties are working together to benefit the community.”

Cr Williams said the anniversary was an apt time for all Redlands Coast residents to pause and think about how far we have come in terms of reconciliation.

“I encourage everyone to come along to the NAIDOC Cultural Celebration; to listen and learn; and to take away an understanding of the cultural significance of Country,” Cr Williams said.

Raby Bay Harbour Park, Cleveland Cultural Celebration, 7 August, 9am to 1pm

Come and enjoy performances featuring:

Renowned Torres Strait Island singer/songwriter Chris Tamwoy with special guest Tania-Rose Gibuma Quandamooka local song-man Josh Walker and the Yulu-Burri-Ba dancers Influential contemporary Indigenous musician Joe Geia and his band Quandamooka cultural demonstrations by Matt Burns Australian South Sea Islander and Aboriginal singer/songwriter Georgia Corowa Performances by the Wagga Torres Strait Island Dance Company Traditional Weaving Workshops, arts and craft activities and more!

The free celebrations will also include a traditional smoking ceremony as well as traditional arts and crafts activities.

There will be artworks by Quandamooka artists for sale, traditional weaving workshops and a sand art display.

Stay for lunch and try the offerings from bush tucker food trucks and community barbeques.

Continuing  NAIDOC events:

Exhibition Fragments: A Printed Environment: Tamika Grant-Iramu

until Sunday 18 July, Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland

Grant-Iramu’s work brings into focus aspects of the natural environment that often go unnoticed and yet are an important part of the identity and culture of place. artgallery.redland.qld.gov.au/exhibitions/exhibitions-2021/fragments-a-printed-environment-tamika-grant-iramu/

Exhibition Response: Carol McGregor

until Sunday 18 July, Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland

In Response, Carol McGregor, an artist of Wathaurung and Scottish descent, reflects on what was here, looked after and used as a resource before colonisation. artgallery.redland.qld.gov.au/exhibitions/exhibitions-2021/response-carol-mcgregor/