Australia Awards Africa Celebrates Australia’s Indigenous Culture

Each July, Australia observes NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee) Week. NAIDOC Week has existed since 1991 and is celebrated from the first Sunday through to the second Sunday of each July. This week provides an opportunity for Australians to celebrate the rich history and culture, as well as the achievements of, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Australia Awards Africa supports NAIDOC week and the importance of sharing Australia’s unique cultural heritage with scholars On-Award. The Program has therefore partnered with local organisations in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide to showcase Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islands culture through culinary experiences, guided tours of the local area and artistic experiences.

Originally marked in January as the Day of Mourning (1938), NAIDOC Week has roots in Aboriginal justice movements which sought recognition of the loss of culture and grave mistreatment of Aboriginal people as consequence of the colonisation of Australia in 1788. The occasion moved to July in 1957 to focus on not only remembrance, but also recognition of Indigenous heritage. 2024 marks the 50^th year since NAIDOC first comprised of only Aboriginal members. This year NAIDOC Week is celebrated from Sunday 7 – Sunday 14 July.

In March, the Program partnered with Mabu Mabu to host a picnic in the park for Melbourne based scholars. Mabu Mabu which has a restaurant, catering company and small goods store is 100% Indigenous owned, sourcing ingredients from local, environmentally conscious providers. With Mabu Mabu, scholars tried ingredients like wattleseed, rosella, strawberry gum and desert herbs through a variety of baked goods.

In April, the Program partnered with Dreamtime Southern X in Sydney, taking local scholars on the illi-Langi The Rocks Aboriginal Dreaming Tour where they walked around the Sydney Harbour to understand how the local landscape including marine life, flora, fauna and waterways shaped Aboriginal thinking.

In June, Australia Awards Africa teamed up with Nyanda Cultural Tours in Brisbane where scholars had a unique cultural experience participating in a smoking ceremony and a guided walk through the Nudgee Waterhole Reserve which demonstrated how nature was used to mark different territories and activities, while also being used for food, shelter and tools. After walking through the reserve, scholars practiced throwing boomerang and sampled local ingredients like Davidson plum, finger lime and desert quandong.

Also in June, the Program travelled down to Adelaide, participating in an Introduction to Aboriginal Art class with Southern Cultural Immersion at the Living Kaurna Cultural Centre. Scholars learned about local Aboriginal history, the symbolism behind their colourful artworks and had the opportunity to replicate these on their own canvas.

Australia Awards Africa is grateful to have had the opportunity to partner with these 100% Indigenous owned, local businesses and thanks them for teaching our scholars about Indigenous culture in their region.