Saturday, 3 July 2010
Get behind the NAIDOC Week message and celebrate Indigenous Australia
NAIDOC Week is a chance to celebrate the richness of Indigenous history, culture and achievements, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda, said today on the eve of NAIDOC Week.
Commissioner Gooda said NAIDOC Week’s theme of Unsung Heroes – Closing the Gap by Leading the Way, provided an opportunity to honour the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – both past and present – who have played a critical role in helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to chart their own course.
“The efforts of these ‘Unsung heroes’, who exist in every community, small or large, rural, urban or remote, have ultimately been focussed on ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have the right to participate in public life and the right to be involved in decisions that affect us,” Commissioner Gooda said.
“These people are always there, supporting communities and toiling away to improve the lot of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“Their efforts to overcome disadvantage faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples has helped to improve access to a range of services, including legal aid, housing, health, and education. Their efforts over the past 20 years also contributed to the Australian Government's decision last year to give formal support to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
“These unsung heroes seek no accolades for their efforts but they are, in many cases, the backbone of their local community,” he said.”
Commissioner Gooda said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were blessed with a legacy of determination, resilience and survival. He said he hoped the broader community respected this fact and hoped that it would ultimately lead to an improved quality of life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia.
“NAIDOC Week also gives the broader Australian community and individuals an opportunity to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to make real inroads in strengthening relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, within Indigenous communities, and between Indigenous communities and Governments.
“The cornerstone to celebrating the achievements and richness of Indigenous Australia is mutual respect and I think we can only achieve this when we nurture respectful relationships across the board,” Commissioner Gooda said. “Challenging discrimination and building understanding of and between each other must begin at an early age and we should use weeks such as NAIDOC to encourage this.”
Commissioner Gooda said the Australian Human Rights Commission’s rightsED resource provided valuable material for teachers and students wanting to address racism and discrimination in Australia.
The rightsED resource is available free online at www.humanrights.gov.au/education
NAIDOC Week runs from 4 July – 10 July. For information about NAIDOC Week, including local events, see: www.naidoc.org.au/index.aspx
Media contact: Louise McDermott - 0419 258 597
