NAIDOC celebrations inspire

Broome might have missed out on the traditional parade that sees thousands walk through Chinatown but the community still came together to celebrate the 2020 Kullarri NAIDOC Festival.

Despite COVID-19 forcing official celebrations to be delayed by several months, several community organisations rallied together to put on several events to mark NAIDOC Week.

This year’s NAIDOC theme was “Always was, always will be”, recognising that First Nations people have occupied and cared for the continent for over 65,000 years.

During an event at Broome Convention Centre hosted by the Kimberley Stolen Generation Aboriginal Corporation, Dr Mark Bin Bakar delivered a powerful speech.

“This land was always our country and always will be,” he said. “Nothing is going to change that.”

Elder Georgina Dodson echoed Dr Bin Bakar’s views, declaring Yawuru Country “will always be Yawuru Country and nobody can take it away”.

Among some of the week’s highlights were the opening ceremony that featured performances from The Nightingale Band and Ginger Cox, a family fun day at Town Beach, rope art, and a ceremony acknowledging the Stolen Generation.

The NAIDOC celebrations will continue later in the month with a NAIDOC Netball carnival, followed by a 3-on-3 basketball carnival hosted by Garnduwa slated for December.