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Australian High Commission
Colombo
MEDIA RELEASE
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6 July 2008
Australia celebrates NAIDOC week
Australia celebrates its Indigenous heritage this week (6-13 July) in annual National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week celebrations.
NAIDOC Week is the outcome of a long history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander efforts to bring issues of interest and concern to Indigenous Australians to the attention of Governments and the general public. NAIDOC Week events highlight Indigenous issues in Australia and provide an opportunity to display the richness and diversity of Australian Indigenous culture. Today it is celebrated not just in the Indigenous community, but also in Australian Government agencies, schools, local councils and workplaces.
The theme for NAIDOC 2008 is Advance Australia Fair. The aim of this theme is to encourage people to reflect on the Australian principle of a “Fair go” and to consider the inequalities still experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia today.
This year’s NAIDOC week celebration is especially significant as the Australian Government made an official apology to the Stolen Generations in February 2008. The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, in his speech spoke of a “future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia”.
The Australian Aboriginal flag is a recognisable symbol of the Aboriginal people in Australia - black represents the Aboriginal people of Australia, the colour red represents the red earth, the red ochre used in ceremonies and Aboriginal people’s spiritual relation to the land, while the yellow disk represents the Sun, the giver of life and protector.
The Torres Strait Islander Flag symbolises the unity of all Torres Strait Islanders. The green panels at the top and bottom of the flag represent the land and the central blue panel represents the sea. The black lines dividing the panels represent the Torres Strait Islander people. The white dhari (dancer’s headdress) at the centre is a symbol for all Torres Strait Islanders. The white five-pointed star is a symbol for navigating the sea. The points of the star represent the island groups in the Torres Strait and white symbolises peace.
According to 2006 Census figures, 455,031 Australians identify as Indigenous.
Aboriginal flag
Torres Strait Islander Flag