Nyngan NAIDOC
Originally published in The Nyngan Weekly
Nyngan NAIDOC 2022 was officially opened on Monday morning at Winangali Walk.
The opening ceremony, led by Raylene Weldon celebrated the 2022 theme of Get up! Stand up! Show up!
Wakakirri Mayi performed for the crowd, and speeches were given by students from across the region, as well as Bogan Shire Council mayor Glen Neill.
In line with this year’s theme, students gave speeches about important people and events in Aboriginal history, ways in which the community can get up and stand up, and the importance of sincere actions to move forward.
Particularly moving was a speech from young Matilda McDougall, who spoke on the importance of Acknowledgements of Country.
“It took me 30 seconds to respect my Elders. It took me 30 seconds to revive my culture. It took me 30 seconds to make people feel safe. It took me 30 seconds to right a wrong. The Acknowledgement of Country is an important moment that should happen before every significant event or speech in Australia. It addresses the Country that you are standing on and pays respects to the First Nations people,” she said.
Matilda continued to explain to the crowd the importance of those 30 seconds in reviving culture.
“[An acknowledgement] was said when a nation crossed the border into another nation’s territory, to pay respects and ask permission and safety to travel in a modern world.
“It can be compared to a knock on a front door, asking permission to come inside. Without that knock or request for permission, you have broken a cultural code.”
Matilda said that the easy gesture of Acknowledging Country symbolises a step forward from the wrongs of the past, that helps to contribute to fixing the damages of the past.
“There is no specific wording for Acknowledgement of Country. You just need to mean it and be sincere. If you do not mean it - do not say it.
“Every day you live, work, and dream on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands. 30 seconds, that is all we ask for, 30 seconds. If you cannot provide us with 30 seconds then you are telling us that we are not worth that amount of time. That I am not worth that amount of time.
“You are telling us that we need that we still need to fight to get up, stand up and show up to make sure you value us and our culture enough to sacrifice 30 seconds of your time.”
Nyngan Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) Veneta Dutton said that Matilda had spoke about how easy it was to give an acknowledgement after attending the Koori Netball Gala Day.
“It’s an emotional speech for me, it’s very important. I like seeing it done at all events, I’m hoping it can be done and be more embedded across our community.
“After working with the Dubbo land council for the last few months, I’ve noticed how much they do it and how many services engage the land council to do that compared to us here in Nyngan.
“If it can’t be a Welcome to Country, do an acknowledgement. Our Elders usually do the welcome but it’s good to have our kids learning every day, in language, and the importance of it is much more than just 30 seconds.”
Nyngan Public School students, Sophie, Kade, and Lillian, talked about Billy Craigie, Bert Williams, Ghillar Michael Anderson and Tony Coorey, Eddie Mabo, and Vincent Lingiari.
They used the significant work of these people to reflect on the 2022 NAIDOC theme, and highlight the long history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working together for the betterment of their communities.
“We have a lot of Aunties and Uncles getting up, standing up, and showing up every day. It is important that we keep the stories of the people and the moments which have fought for First Nations rights, alive and in our communities. They show us what we do today can impact tomorrow, that our actions have the ability to influence, and that getting up standing up and showing up, can make a change for the better today,” said Kade.
Nyngan High School students sung the Australian National Anthem in Ngiyampaa language, and student leaders, Meg and Connor on the ways they, as young people, can work towards acknowledging, creating, and celebrating change.
“We have grown up in this community and witnessed the challenges and the triumphs of Nyngan. We care about this community and care about the growth of the people of Nyngan. We put it to you that you reflect on this year’s theme as a community. How can Nyngan get up, stand up, and show up? How can we create and maintain positive change for First Nations people in Nyngan?
“How can we educate young people so mistakes of the past are not bound to be repeated? How can we educate ourselves to ensure personal growth?” said Conner.
Hermidale Public School students, Ruby and Abbie, spoke about their experiences in the Northern Territory, and the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum.
Abbie encouraged people to do their research ahead of any referendum, and vote ‘yes’. She said they have been learning about the proposal in class and she believes it is time for the constitution to be updated.
“The Australian constitution was written over 120-years-ago. I think we should vote ‘yes’ because some of the rules in the constitution should be updated and because First Nations people should be able to help make our own decisions and be shown respect. Can you all please listen very carefully to all the conversations, so that when it’s time to vote you will know the information to make your decision. Please get up, stand up, show up - everyone.”
Ms Dutton said she is amazed each year by how well students speak, and their pride in speaking at NAIDOC events.
“The school children’s speeches always amaze me; how well the speak and how proud they are to speak about Nyngan, the theme, and the history of NAIDOC.”
Ms Dutton said she was pleased to see representatives from the Bogan shire attend, and to have mayor Glen Neill speak at the ceremony.
“It’s good to see the partnership with council still working, even though we’re not holding the opening ceremony at the council, it’s good that they’re represented still, and we still have that partnership working together.”
Mr Neill reflected on the ways in which Bogan shire and the LALC have worked together, to better build relationships across the community.
He thanked the LALC board for his invitation to the event, and said he hopes to see further great work come from their relationship.
“This year’s NAIDOC week theme is get up, stand up, and show up. One of the definitions of that, that I’ve seen while looking things up on this, was that if we amplify our voices, narrowing the gap between aspirations and reality, there will be good intent and outcomes. I believe these words are very true to all of us.
“If we all work together in one community, the results we will get will be amazing,” said Mr Neill.
Three Elders - Eddie Shipp, Gloria Shipp, and Lesly Ryan raised the flags, before everyone joined in a minute of silence.
“For my Elders to be able to raise the flags, and not just the Aboriginal flag but also the Torres Strait Islander and the Australian flag as well, was quite a privilege.
“Between the three of them, a lot of knowledge is there and a lot of history. So it’s quite an emotional week, NAIDOC, for all of us and just to be heard, to be seen, and follow the theme get up, stand up, show up.”
To conclude the ceremony, an impromptu dance lesson was held, led by Jamie McLennan. Wakakirri Mayi had performed three dances to open the ceremony, and teacher Mr McLennan invited the crowd to join them in the dance pit to learn one together.
National NAIDOC week was held in July, but Nyngan celebrates in August each year.
“Official NAIDOC national week was in July, but we always try to do it as a community, so we make sure the date suits our community,” said Ms Dutton.
“We always start with the opening ceremony, and we always reflect on the schools, our kids are the future, and I think if they learn at school, how important NAIDOC is, and how important Aboriginal people are to community, and as a whole to Australia, that we can be inclusive and come together, on a more united front for less racism,” said Ms Dutton.
“By including the schools, it just creates that future generation of having it embedded.”
The opening ceremony was the first event in a week of NAIDOC celebrations that will conclude with the community day and dinner on Friday.