The importance of conversations, connections and creating a new dialogue together was the theme of talks held at the opening of the Port's NAIDOC Week celebrations on Monday.
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Scaled back this year due to COVID-19 but still significant, the NAIDOC celebrations opened in Raymond Terrace with small ceremony where the Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags were raised and the Yabang Gumba-Gu agreement between Port Stephens Council, Worimi and Karuah Aboriginal Land Councils was signed for a third year.
Speaking to the small gathering of about 25 people in the courtyard of the council's administration building on Monday morning, Worimi LALC chief executive officer Andrew Smith reflected on this year's NAIDOC theme.
"Acknowledging Always Was, Always Will Be is not about disenfranchising all Australians, it's about understanding and appreciating that we're collective custodians of today's environment. We must work together to protect what is our most valuable asset, which is mother earth," he said.
"I think Always Was, Always Will Be is a great opportunity for us to unlock the real history of Australia. It's an opportunity for all Australians collectively to start spending time with Aboriginal people and listening to stories of the land. It's not an ownership thing. It's appreciating that Australia's history goes further back than Captain Cook and reflects the importance of protecting the land.
"That's particularly important here in Port Stephens. It's becoming so popular - we're boosting tourism, the economy, infrastructure and the population. In doing that, we cannot lose sight of the responsibilities we have in protecting our beautiful and diverse ecosystem here in Worimi country."
Mr Smith added that this year's NAIDOC theme also provided an opportunity for new conversations and relationships to develop, which he believed was important following the Black Lives Matter protests that came to the fore in Australia in July.
"These issues exist because there is no conversations. It's time new relationships are developed," he said.
"Through Always Was, Always Will Be it's an opportunity to create a new identity for all Australians. Through that new identity we can create new connections and those connections connect us back to mother earth which is really important.
"We invite you to come sit down with us in harmony and listen, share and understand and appreciate how beautiful Aboriginal culture is. We will create a new understanding, which will create new education which lessens the divide and minimises conflict and then eliminates the nonsense racism going on in the world."
During his speech on Monday to open the NAIDOC Week celebrations, Port Stephens Mayor Ryan Palmer highlighted council and local Aboriginal community's achievements through working together and future projects.
Cr Palmer said the council is investing in language programs, looking at new opportunities for Indigenous public artwork across the Port and supporting development of the Karuah LALC medical community facility.
"While this NAIDOC Week is a little different to those we have celebrated in the past, today we have a small and select crowd when usually there are hundreds, it still has a special meaning right across Port Stephens and Australia," Cr Palmer said.
"It's an opportunity to celebrate the rich history, culture and achievements of the Worimi and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people right across Australia.
"This year's theme is Always Was, Always Will Be, recognising the nation's history didn't begin with European settlement. The First Nation's people have occupied our beautiful country for 65,000 years, or maybe even longer, and the land on which we stand is, and always will be, Worimi country.
"I hope we can all take this time this week to celebrate and open up a dialogue, to have those conversations we may have never had to recognise the history that is so rich, so that we can move forward together."
Following speeches Mr Smith, Cr Palmer, Port Stephens Council general manager Wayne Wallis and Worimi elder Uncle John Ridgeway OAM signed the Yabang Gumba-Gu agreement.
First signed in 2018, the Yabang Gumba-Gu - meaning road to tomorrow - agreement acts as a roadmap for each of the organisations to work towards and achieve goals or mutually beneficial objectives.
Senior Australian Defence Force Officer Group Captain Peter Cluff and Port Stephens police Inspector Dan Skelly raised the Torres Strait Island flag; Cr Palmer and councillor Giacomo Arnott raised the Australian flag and; Mr Smith and Mr Ridgeway raised the Aboriginal flag while John Schultz from Murrook Culture Centre played the didgeridoo.
As part of the Port's limited NAIDOC program this year, a movie, My Blood It Runs, will screen at Raymond Terrace Library on November 9 (10.30am), 10 (2.30pm), 11 (10.30am), 12 (2.30pm) and 13 (10.30am).
Bookings are essential. Phone the library on 4988 00111.
In My Blood It Runs is an observational feature documentary following 10 year old Arrernte Aboriginal boy Dujuan as he grows up Alice Springs.
A Sea of Hands - a prominent Australian symbol used to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land rights, justice and reconciliation - will be displayed in Apex Park, Nelson Bay on November 10.
Monday's NAIDOC ceremony was live streamed to Port Stephens Council's Facebook page.
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
