NAIDOC Week 2020

Posted: Fri 6 Nov

NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and is not only celebrated by Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. Due to the social restrictions of COVID-19 in 2020, NAIDOC Week has been moved from its traditional dates in July, to 8 - 15 November.
The City of Casey sits on the lands of 2 Traditional Owners, the Bunurong/Boon Wurrung and the Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin Nation, though is home to people from Traditional Lands all across the modern day Australia.

NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’. This committee was once responsible for organising national activities during NAIDOC Week and its acronym has since become the name of the week itself. Find out more about the origins and history of NAIDOC Week.

The very first footprints on this continent were those belonging to First Nations peoples, NAIDOC 2020 invites all Australians to embrace the true history of this country – a history which dates back thousands of generations.

Show your support by displaying the 2020 NAIDOC Week poster or download the PDF version.

First, as is custom, the Traditional custodians of this land will Welcome you to Country, Elders from both the Boon Wurrung/Bunurong and Wurundjeri/Woi-Wurrung people, as the City of Casey rests on both of their Traditional Lands. This a formal cultural protocol that has been happening on this land for thousands of years, Bunjil Place is proud to continue this tradition for all significant events. A Welcome to Country is to officially welcome people to the land of the traditional custodians of that area. It also thanks the ancestors for allowing meetings or events to take place on that land.

The City of Casey Aboriginal Gathering Place team Acknowledgement of Country and Flag Raising for NAIDOC Week.

 

Cooking Johnny Cakes

Johnny Cakes, the humble bush scone, is a cooking tradition that has been shared amongst families and communities over many, many years. The team at the Casey Aboriginal Gathering Place has been kind enough to share their version of the much loved recipe, how to make both “wet” and dry” Johnny Cakes.

 

Carissa Nyalu

Carissa is a Yorta Yorta Dja Dja Wurrung singer/songwriter based on Boonwurrung Country on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. Her love for the being on country & out in nature, mixed with stories about family and trauma make for some raw and real acoustic tunes that come straight from the soul.

She’s recorded a special set for Bunjil Place, which we hope you all enjoy - this video was only available throughout NAIDOC Week.

Follow Carissa Nyalu: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/carissanyalu/  - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/carissanyalu/

 

The Casey Cardinia Library are also celebrating NAIDOC Week with a series of on-line events: https://www.cclc.vic.gov.au/naidoc-week-2020/

If you would like to learn more about the rich and complex History of Australia’s First peoples, we encourage you to borrow the some of the fantastic resources at the Bunjil Place Library. We’ve created a list of some of our favourite Indigenous books and writers to help get you started: