NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This year’s NAIDOC Week theme is ‘For our Elders’.

The Yea Wetlands Discovery Centre is proudly hosting a wonderful program of events to celebrate NAIDOC 2023.

Activities will commence on Sunday July 2^nd with a Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country led by proud Taungurung Elder, Aunty Angela ten Burren.

Aunty Angela is also curating a display in the Discovery Centre around the theme ‘For our Elders’ in which photographs and biographies of Taungurung Elders will be displayed with feathers or flowers handpicked from Taungurung Country.

Later in the day, Uncle Ronald Briggs will address us in the Discovery Centre  on the Voice to Parliament, Treaty and Truth. Uncle Ron is a Yorta Yorta elder, Senior Aboriginal Cultural Advisor and Program Facilitator at Caraniche.  Uncle Ron will discuss the origins of the Voice movement in the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart and what the Voice is expected to achieve.

Celebrated Taungurung artist and educator Cassie Leatham will hold two workshops on Wednesday 5^th of July . One will explore traditional weaving techniques using natural materials. The other will cater for primary age children with Mr Beaky story telling and painting bird sculptures.

NAIDOC Week at the Yea Wetlands Discovery Centre is proudly supported by Murrindindi Shire Council, Taungurung Land & Waters Council and Yea Wetlands Discovery Centre Inc.

To help us plan for these events and activities please book in advance via the link below.