NAIDOC week celebrated

Each year, National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Observance Committee (NAIDOC) week, July 6-13, celebrates Indigenous history and culture, with events taking place in regional and urban places. Organisers say a record number of people took place this year.

On July 11, marches and family fun days were a highlight of the week. In Brisbane, Jim McIlroy reports that more than 10,000 people attended the Musgrave Park Family Fun Day. The annual festival is south-east Queensland's largest indigenous cultural festival, and performers included Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter. The atmosphere was one of positive celebration of Indigenous culture and art.

Campaigners against the federal government's intervention into NT Aboriginal communities handed out leaflets publicising a picket to be held outside PM Kevin Rudd's electoral office in Morningside on July 14.

Sue Bolton reports that 500 people took part in the Melbourne march, and in Wollongong, Jess Moore reports that 300 people joined the festival, which had a focus on making positive change for Aboriginal people.

From GLW issue 758