From heart health to deadly dancing, Flinders University’s Student Association is gearing up for a mega-celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture through its own special NAIDOC Week.
Typically celebrated in the first week of July, at Flinders University NAIDOC is held from 28-31 August – a time when students have returned from their mid-year break and can immerse themselves in this important cultural event.
NAIDOC is an opportunity for Australians from all walks of life to join with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to celebrate their rich and enduring history, culture and achievements.
The packed program will get underway with a flag raising ceremony at 10am at the front of the Registry Building on 28 August, followed during the day by a series of engaging panel discussions on a range of highly relevant Indigenous topics from the power of languages to analysis of the 50 years since the referendum.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dancing will have the campus energised, along with a free BBQ and stalls on Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 at The Hub.
Mr Jayme Bennetts, cardiothoracic surgeon, and cardiologist Dr Phil Tideman will deliver an Indigenous Heart Health Talk at the Health Sciences Lecture Theatre Complex on Tuesday 29 at 6.30pm.
Echoing the theme of this year’s NAIDOC Week, there will be a Poetry Slam on the subject ‘Our Language Matters’. To be held in the University’s Tavern from 6pm on Thursday 31, the Poetry Slam features book prizes donated by Magabala Books and Wakefield Press.
Vocal chords will be in full flight during Karaoke at the Tavern from 6pm on Wednesday 30 and there is a Movie Day being screened in The Plaza on Thursday 30. Featuring are fierce flicks like ‘Deadly Yarns’ and ‘The Sapphires’.
Elizabeth Close and Kunyi McInerney are the Artists in Residence at The Hub over the four-day celebrations this year and their contemporary and traditional Aboriginal artworks will be on display.
Taking the lead in bringing together the Flinders NAIDOC Week celebrations is Yaritji Green, the Flinders University Student Association (FUSA) Indigenous Officer.
“Flinders NAIDOC celebrations was created out of ‘Anything is possible’ and ‘Let’s just give it a go’. I got the Indigenous Officer’s gig with just over two months to spin something out of air. What people see at these celebrations is the support of the Non-Indigenous, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community helping me achieve the insurmountable,” said Ms Green.