NAIDOC Week is a huge celebration right around Australia that takes place every July to celebrate the rich culture, history and achievements of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The theme for 2017 is 'Our Languages Matter', showcasing the importance and richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. These languages are passed down from the elders to the younger generations. Did you know there are 14 distinct languages spoken just here in the Goldfields?
The NAIDOC Week program for Kalgoorlie Boulder is bigger and better than ever this year. There are so many amazing things to get involved with, so check the calendar of events for an up-to-date listing and download the official Kalgoorlie Boulder NAIDOC Week program.
Led by Tjuma Pulka, the activities this year will honour the theme to create Wangkatja: Our Language Matters Arts & Cultural Festival. The week-long celebration will include a huge arts, culture and music festival, a marker's market and tours.
On Monday 3rd July, the Art, Culture & Music Festival Launch will be in full swing at the Goldfields Arts Centre. This free event runs from 5pm to 7pm and celebrates all things arts, culture and music, including life-size puppets made by the youth of Kalgoorlie Boulder. This is a ticketed event so buy yours now and be sure not to miss out!
On Tuesday 4th July, there will be an Original Nations Maker's Market, also held at the Goldfields Arts Centre from 4pm to 7pm.
From 10am to 4pm on Wednesday 5th July, there will be an Anglicare Family Day at Maku Stadium. Families of all backgrounds are welcome to come together and celebrate. Performances by the Ngadju Dancers, local musicians Marcus McGuire, Warwick Tulloch and Mark Gleeson, traditional story telling, foods, dance, art workshops and much more!
Friday 7th July marks the end of the NAIDOC week celebrations with a closing concert at the Goldfields Arts Centre from 5:30pm. This is a red-carpet event with live music from Electric Fields which will be complemented by a digital imagery projection performance by John Carberry. The event is child friendly and tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 15yrs.
There will also be daily Bush Ghoodhu Wongutha Town Walking Tour running form the Kalgoorlie Boulder Visitor Centre, leaving every day at 9am, 11am and 1pm. This family friendly walking tour is the perfect way to discover the historic and cultural side of Kalgoorlie Boulder. Visit significant Aboriginal sites and learn about the traditional Wongutha way of life. Hear Dreaming stories and song, join in with a smoking ceremony and learn about traditional Wongutha tools and hunting weapons. For more information and bookings, call us direct on (08) 9021 1966.
We wish everyone a great NAIDOC Week and look forward to seeing you all in town....
