NAIDOC in the North is coming to Gungahlin Town Square for the first time on Saturday 13 July from 11am-2pm with a huge range of fun and learning on offer for the whole family!This FREE celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture will feature stories, song, dance, art, ceremony and more and is the first major event in the Gungahlin Arts program.
The event will begin at 11 with a smoking ceremony from Ritchie Allen and Welcome to Country from Canberra’s most Senior Ngunnawal elder Aunty Agnes Shea.
Afterwards the musical program will kick off, featuring crowd favourites The Wiradjuri Echoes and the Monica Moore Trio as well as Australia’s best-loved Aboriginal children’s entertainer Johnny Huckle, who will be bringing his Wombat Wobble to the Gungahlin stage.The program will also show off some of Canberra’s best emerging musical talent with Jye Cole Hopkins – a year 11 student from Dickson College and young Luritja and Warumungu man.Aunty Violet Sheridan will MC the program, and share some of her own stories throughout the day.
There’s also heaps of opportunities to learn and share knowledge with local artists and experts who will be delivering hands-on workshops throughout the day.Meg Price will share her skills in traditional basket weaving and Yurbay will share their extensive knowledge of traditional plant use for food and medicine – with samples for you to touch, taste and smell. Larry Brandy, a local Wiradjuri man will share artefacts, songs, dance and stories from the Wiradjuri Culture in the Gungahlin Library.
For the littlies, Wiradjuri artists Yarrudahamarra Creations will be on hand with free face painting, and local community organisations will be hosting a range of kids art and craft activities.There’ll also be a special guest appearance from the Bogong Moth, opportunities to jump in a fire truck or onto the reconciliation bus and the chance to cook your own damper on the fire.
There will be artworks on display in the Gungahlin College Stage Gallery from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Gungahlin schools, and you can vote for your favourite in the people’s choice award to help support the next generation of local talent.
To fuel you while you’re enjoying all the fun, coffee from Black Magic Coffee, A sausage sizzle from the Belconnen Lions Club and Crepes from Le Petit Breton will all be available for sale at the event.
For more information, visit the Belconnen Arts Centre website, or join the Facebook event
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