National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week 2009 will be held from 5 to 12 July 2009. The national theme for this year’s celebrations is “Honouring our Elders, Nurturing our Youth”. The theme encourages communities to acknowledge the status of Elders as leaders and role models for youth.

NAIDOC Week is one of the most important events for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) communities. It provides an opportunity for the celebration of ATSI culture and history within the ATSI and wider communities.

The 2009 NAIDOC Week Poster (above) features artwork by Luke Mallie, winning artist of the National NAIDOC Poster Competition. Luke's artwork, created from acrylic, water colour and ink on paper, is titled Carrying On Our Culture and was judged the winner by the National NAIDOC Committee from a record 140 entries.

Each year the City of Sydney coordinates and provides grants to a range of local groups to stage NAIDOC Week events. The following events will be held across the City during NAIDOC Week 2009.

Tto find out what's happening in your local government area check out the national NAIDOC website at www.naidoc.org.au

Saturday 4 July 2009

Basketball competition
A 3 on 3 basketball competition will take place, alongside traditional Indigenous games for younger people in the auditorium. A barbecue, sponsored by the Aboriginal Employment Strategy will also take place.

Time: 2pm – 4pm
Venue: Peter Forsyth Auditorium outside basketball courts
Cost: Free

NAIDOC Film Night
A collection of local and international Indigenous films presented over 4 hours at Peter Forsyth Auditorium as part of the After Dark session of the Glebe Youth Services youth program. Come and see a music video clip by local young people, Vinno and Kieran of Glebe Youth Services.

Time: 5pm – 9pm
Venue: Peter Forsyth Auditorium
Cost: Free

Sunday 5 July 2009

Glebe NAIDOC Family Day
The Family Day will bring together Indigenous and non-Indigenous people from Glebe and surrounding suburbs to celebrate Indigenous culture. The event is a community gathering with performance, food and craft activities for children, and is run in partnership with the Glebe Community Development project.

Time: 11.00am-3.00pm
Venue: Peter Forthsyde Auditorium, Glebe
Cost: Free event

Monday 6 July

Alexandria Park Community School NAIDOC Week celebrations
A series of events held from 6 - 9 July including an elders morning tea and workshop, Aboriginal film study day for senior students, Games and Sports Day, Open Day, and a parents and community luncheon.

Time: Various
Venue: Alexandria Park Community School, Park Road, Alexandria
Cost: Free events, contact school on 9698 1967

Tuesday 7 July

The Apology Talk: music, playtime, tears and laughter
City of Sydney historian Margo Beasley will talk about recording on the ground reactions at Redfern Community Centre to Prime Minister’s formal apology to the stolen generation the 13 February 2008. Margo will be accompanied by a representative from the Indigenous community. A DVD made of the days proceedings will also be screened.

Time: 12.15pm-12.45pm
Venue: Customs House Library, Level 2 Meeting Room
Cost: Free event, bookings essential on 9242 8555

Wednesday 8 July

Elders Morning Tea @ Museum of Contemporary Art
Elders will be treated to a morning of art through the MCA exploring Aboriginal and Torres Strait art past and present, followed by a morning tea provided by the MCA

Time: 10.00am-12.00pm
Venue: MCA
Cost: Free, bookings essential please contact Tracey Duncan 9246 7948

Cultural Awareness Training
Mulga Gidgee will present a cultural awareness workshop to discuss how to communicate effectively and confidentially with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The facilitators are from the local Aboriginal community and will present a very unique approach to cultural awareness training.

Time: 10am – 2pm
Venue: Yaama Dhiyaan, 255 Wilson Street Darlington
Cost: Free, bookings essential contact Tracey Duncan on 9246 7848

Thursday 9 July

NAIDOC Sports Day
A day of traditional Aboriginal sporting games mixed with contemporary sports makes for a great day of sport and health. A day of sporting activities planned for Alexandria Park for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people so come and enjoy a day of touch football, basketball, running races and lots more.

Time: 11.00am-3.00pm
Venue: Alexandria Park, Alexandria
Cost: Free

Documenting our history: telling the stories with our elders
The NAIDOC Week Indigenous History Seminar will provide information and support to Aboriginal people wishing to undertake community or family historical research, featuring workshops with the State Library of NSW; State Records NSW; AIATSIS and seminars hosted by previous winners of The NSW Indigenous History Fellowship -. Workshops and seminars will be conducted throughout the day in 90 minute sessions, and a free morning tea and lunch is provided.
The NAIDOC Week Indigenous History Seminar is proudly sponsored by the State Library of NSW; State Records NSW; AIATSIS and the City of Sydney Council. More detail can be found at the History Council of NSW website: www.historycouncilnsw.org.au or contact Annaliesse Monaro at a.monaro@tranby.edu.au or 1800 601 988 for more details.

Time: 9:00am- 4:00pm
Venue: Tranby College, 11-13 Mansfield Street, Glebe
Cost: Gold coin at the door

Mudgin-gal Women’s Centre “Seeding Hope” Launch
Mudgin-gal Women’s Centre launches “Seeding Hope” the history, aspirations & success stories of Mudgin-Gal Women’s Centre

Time: 10.00am-1.00pm
Venue: Redfern Community Centre, 29-53 Hugo Street, Redfern
Cost: Free

Friday 10 July

Redfern NAIDOC Family Day & Market Day
Entertainment, sports and kids activities, amusement rides and community stalls and local arts and crafts, live entertainment and free BBQ lunch from 12pm-2pm.

Time: 10.00am-4.00pm
Venue: Redfren Community Centre, Caroline & Eveleigh Streets
Cost: Free

Saturday 11 July

Woolloomooloo NAIDOC Family Day
Entertainment, kids activities, amusement rides, stalls and free BBQ lunch.

Time: 11.00am-4.00pm
Venue: Forbes Street Reserve (between Nicholson St and Best St), Woolloomooloo
Cost: Free

The Apology: music, playtime, tears and laughter
City of Sydney historian Margo Beasley will talk about recording on the ground reactions at Redfern Community Centre to Prime Minister’s formal apology to the stolen generation the 13 February 2008. Margo will be accompanied by a representative from the Indigenous community. A DVD made of the days proceedings will also be screened.

Time: 2.30pm-3.30pm
Venue: Waterloo Library, 770 Elizabeth Street, Waterloo
Cost: Free event, bookings essential ph: 9288 5677

Sunday 12 July

Sydney Harbour Trust Celebrates NAIDOC Week
Celebrations include launch of the Trusts book about Bungaree and his farm, a surprise performance, bush tucker tea and the history of Sydney’s Aboriginal defence personnel
will be showcased in the exhibition “Joining Up”.

Time: 1.30pm-4.00pm
Venue: Amphitheatre, Headland Park, Middle Head Road, Mosman
Cost: Free event, enquiries: 8969 2100 www.harbourtrust.gov.au

Indigenous Youth Cultural Development Program
The one day program will include cultural talks by elders, cultural dance lessons, healthy wellbeing workshops and leadership skills development workshops. Participating youth will be drawn from the Redfern/Waterloo area, with the event held on Rodd Island, run by Babana Aboriginal Men’s Group Incorporated.

This one day program will include cultural talks by elders, cultural dance lessons, health and wellbeing workshops and leadership skills development workshops. Participating youth will be drawn from the Redfern/Waterloo area with the event held on Rodd Island.

Time: 12pm
Venue: Tribal Warrior, Rodd Island
Cost: Free, bookings essential contact Babana Men’s Group on 02 9243 3546

City Libraries Activities
The City of Sydney Library runs weekly Children’s Story-times at most branches. From Monday 6 – Friday 10 July, our story-times will feature an Indigenous story for kids and NAIDOC-themed craft sessions. Story time for ages 3 – 5 years. For more details please visit our website at: cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Library

A program of activities is planned in the City's Libraries including storytelling and knitting workshops, information stalls and an Elders IT workshop. Events will be primarily focussed in Waterloo Library, which is where the City houses the Koori collection, and Glebe Library. For more information please visit our website: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Library

Time: various
Venue: Various
Cost: Free

To find out what's happening in your local government area check out the national NAIDOC website at www.naidoc.org.au