NAIDOC Week Blazes a Trail in Sydney
First Nations trailblazers and advocates are being celebrated this NAIDOC Week after an exciting weekend of events drew crowds across the harbour foreshore of Gadigal Land.
Placemaking NSW Acting CEO Susan Lee said the inaugural event, NAIDOC Up Late: Trailblazers, took over The Cutaway at Barangaroo Reserve on Saturday, fireworks delighted at Darling Harbour that evening and a Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country were held at the Indigenous Art Fair at The Rocks.
“NAIDOC Week, which runs from July 2 until July 9, shines a light on the cultural and community connections between First Nations people and individuals from diverse backgrounds,” Ms Lee said.
“This year’s theme is For Our Elders, a celebration of their unwavering commitment to social justice as trailblazers and an homage to the generations that have paved the way for the leaders of today and tomorrow.
“It was wonderful to see how much these events and recognition mean to the community, with many travelling to join the celebrations across the city,” she said.
ARIA-nominated BARKAA and fellow rapper Tasman Keith had heads bobbing as they headlined Saturday’s free NAIDOC Up Late: Trailblazers event at Barangaroo, with the music and street basketball festival finally going ahead after two pandemic-stalled attempts.
The traditional mixed with the modern as The Cutaway swelled to the sounds of Indigenous storytelling and hip-hop beats, the smells of delicious food trucks and the action of the slam-dunk basketball contest.
The sounds were brought by Malyangapa and Barkindji woman BARKAA, Gumbaynggirr rapper Keith, Yuin rapper Nooky, critically acclaimed Nigerian-Australian MC B Wise, 22-year-old Maori R&B singer-rapper A Girl, Wiradjuri MC and producer Wizz, DJ Nino Brown, the man known as ‘The Grandfather of Indigenous Hip-Hop’ Munkimuk, and 1990s Brisbane Indigenous R&B acapella group Aim 4 More.
Blak excellence and the struggles of Indigenous Elders will be on show with free events including the school art competition and badge-making workshop at The Rocks Discovery Museum, exhibitions at the Powerhouse Museum and Australian National Maritime Museum and Aboriginal cultural heritage tours through The Rocks.
“It’s an opportunity for the community to learn from First Nations’ cultural knowledge holders, to honour those who have inspired a new generation of leaders and artists. Everyone is welcome to sample some of the best our public spaces have to offer in cultural events and experiences,” Ms Lee said.
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