First Nations | Goldfields Library Corporation

NAIDOC Week 2020

NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to come together to celebrate the rich history, diverse cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the oldest continuing cultures on the planet.

This year’s theme of ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’ recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,00 years.

To read more about this year’s theme, or about NAIDOC Week, visit www.naidoc.org.au

Online events

Lynne Kelly & Margo Neale: Songlines

Songlines

Weaving deeply personal storytelling with extensive research on mnemonics, Songlines: The Power and Promise offers unique insights into Indigenous traditional knowledges robust for over 60,000 years. Lynne and Margo share understandings of how these vast stores of information were encoded through song, story, art, dance and ceremony, rather than simply recorded in writing.

Songlines: The Power and Promise is the first of six books in Thames & Hudson Australia's First Knowledge series, all edited by Margo Neale.

NAIDOC Week Storytime

Aunty Cindy and Aunty Brenda

Macedon Ranges Shire Council created a very special online Storytime in celebration of NAIDOC Week. Families are warmly invited to join Aunty Brenda Fahey, of Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung, and Aunty Cindy Bux, of Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta for some fabulous stories and craft activities showcasing Indigenous culture.

Celebrating culture – How the turtle got his shell
This video also includes acraft activity. PIck up an activity kit from your local library to join in the fun! (limited packs available)

You can also learn about the meaning of smoking ceremonies from Jaara Elder Uncle Rick Nelson of Dja Dja Wurrung in a great video filmed at Hanging Rock by a creative team of Work For Victoria staff members. We thank local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents of Macedon Ranges for their contribution to the diverse culture of our community. Visit Reconciliation.

Commuity events for NAIDOC Week 2020

Kids Virtual Colouring Competition

Bendigo Health is running a kids virtual colouring competition. This will allow young Aboriginal Community members to showcase their artistic flair and imagination. Prizes are available for the winners in each age category (4-7, 8-10 and 11-13 years old). Simply print the NAIDOC poster and once coloured in, send a digital copy or photo to Ally at acharles@bendigohealth.org.au, along with the child's name and age and parents contact details. If you are unable to print the poster, a paper copy will be available from the Aboriginal Support space in the hospital each morning. Alternatively, you can print at your local library.

First Nations Bedtime Stories

Learn from First Nations People and join in a week of learning and sharing.

This online event will share five dreamtime stories across five days told by First Nations Elders and Knowledge Custodians from Central Australia 16-20 November.

www.firstnationsbedtimestories.com

An evening with First Nations Fashion + Design Artists

Together with the Bendigo NAIDOC Week Committee, Bendigo Art Gallery is delighted to present an evening with First Nations Curator Shonae Hobson and the very inspiring First Nations Fashion + Design Director Grace Lillian Lee and Manager Teagan Cowlishaw. Being the National Industry body that nurtures a self-sustaining First Nations Fashion + Design ecosystem, Grace and Teagan will be sharing insights into the Indigenous Fashion Industry with exciting sneak peaks of the Piinpi; Contemporary Indigenous Fashion exhibition.

Thursday 12 November, 6-7pm

A link will be shared on the Bendigo Art Gallery Facebook page just before 6pm.

Local Dja Dja Wurrung Information

These two short videos provide information about local Dja Dja Wurrung country

Dja Dja Wurrung Conservation Walking Together

Bendigo Creek Story

Connecting with Culture on Dja Dja Wurrung Country Resource Kit

Created by Communities for Children Bendigo and Noah’s Ark Inc.

Resource kit available here.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiRd1wAxen0&feature=youtu.be

Condemning violence against First Nations peoples

Goldfields Libraries condemns racism and stands in solidarity with the international community in condemning violence and racism against people of colour. We acknowledge Australia’s history of violence against its First Nations people, who have experienced, and continue to experience, systemic discrimination and disadvantage.

Goldfields Library Corporation is actively working to build cultural literacy in our own staff and organisation. We seek to eradicate racism by developing library services that are equitable, culturally aware, and build cultural literacy and a deeper understanding of Australian History for all who live in our region and beyond. We as an organisation are continuing to learn and grow. We have provided some resources below to assist you in also being a lifelong learner.

Goldfields Library Corporation acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land and waterways of our region. We recognise their living cultures and ongoing connection to Country, and pay respect to their Elders past and present.

Steps we are taking to this end:

We Acknowledge Country at all of our meetings, programs and events, and on all our communications
We are following the recommendations of an Indigenous Cultural Audit of our libraries by Simon Penrose, Koorie Engagement Suport Officer at the Department of Education, Bendigo
We are partnering with our member Councils to engage community and deliver on their Reconciliation Action Plans
EOI’s out for original works of art for a number of our libraries
Development of local Aboriginal art and signage for all our libraries
Developing locally designed Acknowledgment of Country plaques
Developing reader advisory services for books and other collections to support cultural literacy development for all ages
Continuing to develop and support spaces, collections, programs and events which build understanding and celebration of our indigenous cultural heritage and local aboriginal community
Continuing staff development around cultural awareness and service provision