NAIDOC Week theme, Heal Country, is due to play a role in Harvey Aboriginal Corporation’s Knowledge Path walk

Each year in July, NAIDOC Week commemorates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For this year’s theme, Heal Country, Harvey Aboriginal Corporation will be taking residents on a healing cultural journey along the Noongar Kaartdijin Bidee trail, or Noongar Knowledge Path. Noongar elder Lesley Ugle will lead the walk with her daughter and her cousin, and said it was a healing walk to connect the community with First Nations people. “The NAIDOC theme is healing country, healing people and that’s a big part of this walk — it connects people to our country,” she said. “It connects us to our childhood, our surroundings and how to respect and acknowledge that we need to take care of our land to be able to take care of ourselves.” Ms Ugle said the walk was about respecting the shire’s surroundings, as well as each other. “It’s a look back into when things were simple and bringing our childhood back to a place where we were happy and things weren’t so hazy,” she said. “It grounds us, it’s healing and connecting to country.” Harvey Shire president Paul Gillett said Heal Country helped the community understand the connection Aboriginal Australians have with the land. “Our natural environment is an important part of our culture, heritage and history,” Cr Gillett said. “When we heal and take care of our country, we also heal ourselves. The theme Heal Country reminds us of how important reconciliation is.” The walk is open to all and takes place tomorrow, meeting at the Harvey Visitor Centre.