A showcase concert with Coloured Stone and family day out are just two of the ways Council is celebrating NAIDOC Week 2017.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said Council was committed to providing a free community program to ensure all of Redlands could be part of NAIDOC Week 2017 (2-9 July).

“We kick off our activities early with Seek, Unearth, Explore Quandamooka Country at IndigiScapes on Friday 30 June,” Cr Williams said.

“This is a school holiday activity running from 10am – 2pm and includes bush tucker and Indigenous workshops as well as Quandamooka storytelling and an artefact presentation.

“Opening on 2 July we have two exhibitions featuring Indigenous artists – Island Made and Ruby and Hunter by Claudia Moodoonuthi – at Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland.

“Redland Libraries are also offering multicultural story times and Redland Performing Arts Centre (RPAC) is hosting an amazing Our Languages Matter: A NAIDOC Showcase from 12pm on Sunday 9 July.

“This free event is suitable for all ages and brings together a traditional Smoking Ceremony, cultural and dance demonstrations, bush tucker tasting and weaving workshops.

“In a perfect way to finish the week, the Our Languages Matter showcase ends with a performance by nationally-renowned entertainers Bunna Lawrie and Coloured Stone in the RPAC Concert Hall.

“These events are open to all and a wonderful way to learn not only about NAIDOC Week, but also the rich Indigenous culture in our City.

“I also urge people to seek out other community-led activities happening during NAIDOC week such as the opening of the Quandamooka Festival, the Yulu-Burri-Ba Health and Minjerribah Moorgumpin Elders-in-Council NAIDOC celebrations and Goompi NAIDOC Day – the City is spoilt for choice in what is looking to be a very special time of celebration.”

For more information on Council’s NAIDOC events, visit the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Events Calendar.

National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) week is held the first full week of July and celebrates the achievements, contributions and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

The 2017 theme is ‘Our Languages Matter’, highlighting the connections between language and cultural identity and that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are now extinct or endangered.