City celebrates NAIDOC week 2022

Published on Thursday, 23 June 2022 at 12:21:07 PM

The City of Albany is celebrating local Menang-Noongar culture with a range of events and activities across July to recognise NAIDOC Week, which officially runs from July 3 to 10.

Albany Public Library will host a month-long photography exhibition from Glenda Williams that features photographs of Noongar people of the Gnowangerup region in the early 1900’s to the 1960’s. The photographs, which have not displayed publicly since 2014, provide insight into what life was like in the Great Southern region during the first half of last century.

For children that use the Library reading program Beanstack, there will be books by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors and illustrators to read and rack up your logged minutes.

Also hosted by the Library is the screening of NAIDOC film Jedda that can be enjoyed with lunch on Thursday, July 7 at 12:30pm. A NAIDOC themed Story Playground for Children will run from July 5 to 7 and will include Weaving Dream Catchers, Dot Painting Art and Dreamtime Storytime.

The Maritime Festival will also have events for NAIDOC Week, with four knowledgeable and engaging presenters exploring maritime encounters between Menang-Noongar and early Europeans across two evenings.

Elder Carol Pettersen and Sarah Drummond will speak at the first evening at Six Degrees on Monday, July 4 from 6pm. Their talk will delve into past maritime encounters between Menang-Noongar and Wadjela peoples.

Albany’s shoreline has a long-standing history of serving as a liminal space between ocean and boodja (land), with ancient Menang-Noongar peoples utilising this space for hunting, fishing, collecting and storytelling. Settler colonisers were originally sea people, exploring the globe with an eye to claim lands as their own. The talk will explore what it was like when these worlds collided.

The second evening will be held at Dylan’s on the Terrace on Wednesday, July 6 at 6pm. Harley Coyne and Adam Wolfe will bring together oral tradition, historical records and archaeological evidence to explore the Menang-Noongar people’s relationship with the sea and the region's estuaries and rivers.

Beginning with accounts of past sea level rise following the end of the last ice age and the formation of the current Albany coastline, the talk will discuss the understanding and use of the region's rich maritime resources in the context of the wider Menang economy, society and culture. This will range from drift whaling to fishing technology, trade and the movement of peoples.

The City is also running a NAIDOC Week colouring-in competition for all ages until July 11. Hard copy entry forms can be picked up from Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre, Library, Town Hall and City Administration Offices or downloaded from https://www.albany.wa.gov.au/facilities/community/naidoc-week-colouring-competition.aspx

Manager Community Relations Louise Paterson said the week was a celebration of Albany’s traditional custodians.

“NAIDOC week gives us an opportunity to recognise the history, culture and achievements of our local Menang-Noongar people,” she said.

“It is a great opportunity for everyone to learn more about the Menang history and culture and their long connection with our beautiful City.”

More information on NAIDOC Week events can be found at www.library.albany.wa.gov.au or www.albany.wa.gov.au

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