NAIDOC Week 2019: Cultural Architect Statement

NAIDOC Week is a highlight for First Peoples in the calendar year, and at UnitingCare West we believe it is vitally important to action.

It is important for us to action what we say. We want to be real about Culture, we want walk it, not just talk it. We want community to come along and share their ideas so that we can do things together. We want to celebrate NAIDOC together with community.

NAIDOC is an awesome time to celebrate one of the most unique cultures in the world. A culture that has over 60,000 years of a spiritual connection to country and waters and is the oldest continuing culture in the world.

During the festivities we need to be mindful of this year’s theme: ‘Voice. Treaty. Truth. – Let’s work together for a shared future’.

It is time for First Peoples to have a voice. Australia is one of the few liberal democracies around the world which still does not have a treaty or formal acknowledgement of First Peoples. We need to work towards this together.

Voice. Treaty. Truth. are three key elements to the reforms set out in the Uluru Statement of the Heart.  Real and lasting change cannot be achieved unless we have a shared understanding of a truthful history. The true story of Australian history and colonisation must be told, must be heard, and must be acknowledged for us to all move forward together.

During NAIDOC Week at UnitingCare West we will be celebrating across all three of our place hubs. It is so exciting to see many communities across Australia growing yearly NAIDOC celebrations or holding an event for the first time.

Let’s celebrate, grow, walk and work together.

09 July 2019