NAIDOC Week’s Heal Country theme has spread across the regions, giving residents the opportunity to celebrate

Harvey and Waroona are among the towns, cities and communities across the nation taking part in activities to celebrate Indigenous culture for NAIDOC Week. Celebrations are held across the country for one week each year to recognise and highlight the history, achievements and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This year’s NAIDOC theme is Heal Country, calling on people to seek greater protection of Australia’s land, water, and heritage. Harvey and Waroona Shire residents will be able to take part in a activities ranging from healing bilyas to craft and dance workshops, as well as cultural displays and movie screenings. A flag raising ceremony is due to be held at Waroona Police Station from 8.30am today. Harvey Aboriginal Corporation head and Noongar elder Lesley Ugle said protecting Indigenous heritage is right at the top of the list and this year’s theme showed the need to connect to country. “That’s why you see Indigenous people sitting on the ground — it connects us, it grounds us, it’s everything to us, it looks after us, our country,” she said. Harvey Shire president Paul Gillett said healing country is about mending relationships with one another, as well as connections with the natural environment. “It really helps us understand the connection Aboriginal Australians have with the land,” he said. “We are very privileged to have active relationships with our local elders and Noongar community, and celebrating NAIDOC Week is a really important part of this relationship.” Waroona Shire president Mike Walmsley said the organisation was supportive of the journey and path to reconciliation, and the community was invested in NAIDOC Week with a big number of visitors attending the events. “I believe we’ve come a fair way in reconciliation and in creating awareness of the plight of Aboriginal people,” he said. “I encourage everyone to come along, there’s some really quite unique Aboriginal events that are happening,” Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke said she believes we should protect our lands, waters, sacred sites and heritage, not only in the region but across WA and Australia. “NAIDOC Week means a lot to me as the represented member for Murray-Wellington as the electorate is rich with Indigenous culture and history,” she said. Mrs Ugle encouraged people to take part in celebrating “the oldest culture in the world”. “I think we are a unique race and I’ll say it again, Australia should be proud of having the oldest culture in the world,” she said.