Canteen celebrated NAIDOC Week 2024, themed "Keep the fire burning! Blak, Loud and Proud," with culturally rich activities across Australia, honouring the enduring spirit and cultural heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Photo caption: Canteen staff participated in a paint and yarn session
In South Australia, celebrations kicked off with a paint and yarn session at Playford International College, where our team created art using cultural techniques. The team later marched to Parliament with thousands, followed by a family fun day. A local documentary screening on reconnecting with Country highlighted Indigenous stories and achievements.
Photo caption: (L) Canteen staff at the SA March to Parliament (R) Documentary screening
Staff in WA attended the City of Subiaco's NAIDOC Week event, featuring a Welcome to Country, cultural performances, and a smoking ceremony. In New South Wales, the Singing Up Country event, showcasing Aboriginal musicians, their culture, music, and community spirit led by Yaegl man Michal Birk. This event invited the community on a storytelling bushwalk among other highlights, emphasising the cultural significance of native plants as food and medicine.
Photo caption: Singing up Country event in NSW
Midweek, all staff had a very special virtual session with Jade Brook who spoke about connection to Country, sharing a beautiful personal story about discovering her totem.
Our Tassie team joined a Flag Raising Ceremony on piyura kitina, recounting that “it was a deep privilege to be on this land, under the watchful eye of Kunanyi”. We also had the pleasure of being invited to join the Point Pearce Well-being Day on Narungga Country, to engage with community at our Canteen stand.
Photo caption: Canteen stand at the Point Pearce Well-Being Day
The NAIDOC Ball on Kaurna Yerta was a supreme highlight, where Canteen's Reconciliation team and Young Adult Reconciliation Network (YARN) celebrated 50 years of NAIDOC – with sensational performances by Jessica Mauboy and Electric Fields. Here we honoured Aunty Glendra Stubbs, a Female Elder Award finalist. We are so proud of Aunty Glendra for being a finalist in the Female Elder Award category and coming 3rd!
Photo caption: (L) Canteen Reconciliation and YARN team at NAIDOC Ball and (R) with Aunty Glendra
Through NAIDOC Week and across the many celebrations, Canteen is energised by our commitment to acknowledging, preserving, and sharing Indigenous cultural heritage, and to keep the fire burning year-round.
