Community event celebrates Indigenous culture on Redlands Coast

Traditional and contemporary Indigenous culture will be on display at the Redlands Coast NAIDOC Cultural Celebration 2023 to be held in Cleveland on Sunday 2 July.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the free community event would open NAIDOC Week (2 to 9 July 2023) on Redlands Coast.

“Council is proud to be hosting, supporting and facilitating a number of events celebrating First Nations culture and history during NAIDOC Week,” Cr Williams said.

“The cultural celebration in Cleveland will showcase all the vibrancy and vitality of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, with performances and exhibitions from some of our area’s most acclaimed singers, dancers and artists.

“There will also be a traditional smoking ceremony, information stalls, cultural demonstrations, face painting, giveaways and activities for children organised by our libraries team.”

The Redlands Coast NAIDOC Cultural Celebration 2023 will be held in Cleveland Library Square, Middle Street, Cleveland on Sunday 2 July 2023 from 9am to 1pm.

There will be performances by:

Singer/songwriter Georgia Corowa, a South Sea Islander and Bundjalung woman based on Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island. Her musical style can best be described as relaxed, soulful and heartfelt. Yulu-Burri-Ba dancers, a group of Quandamooka dancers of all ages. Matthew Burns, a Quandamooka man and Traditional Owner of Minjerribah who has been dancing and sharing traditional stories and knowledge for more than 20 years. Ben Barker, an Aboriginal Australian musician who combines the didgeridoo and guitar. Proudly representing the Biripi and Dunghutti tribes, he has taken his unique blend of traditional and contemporary sounds from the streets to the largest festivals. Singer/guitarist Edgar Conlon, a young Indigenous man from the Wakka Wakka, Yiman, Kullilli and Gubbi Gubbi tribes. Joe Geia will perform at Redland Performing Arts Centre on Sunday 2 July. Photo: Colin Bushell Photography

Cr Williams said NAIDOC Week celebrations would continue after the event, with a performance by Joe Geia and his band at Redland Performing Arts Centre from 4-6pm.

“Joe is a singer/songwriter, guitarist and didgeridoo player who has been influential in the development of contemporary Indigenous music,” she said.

“His performance on Sunday afternoon, From Rations to Wages to Treaty, will include songs telling of Aboriginal life in Australia and the quest for justice and belonging and of history, family and love.”

To book tickets to the Joe Geia performance, visit rpac.com.au

For more information on these events and other NAIDOC Week activities being held on Redlands Coast, visit redland.qld.gov.au/naidoc