I attended the NAIDOC Week official opening on July 5 at the Albany Town Hall.

There was a beautiful coloured symbol on the back wall, celebrating 50 years of NAIDOC Week.

The crowd was not large, a mixture of different cultures, young and old.

The Indigenous elders and leaders spoke well. I enjoyed the way they spoke about country and the land: truly. They just embrace it with great emotions, they feel it.

The leader of the dance group spoke of the meaning of the different dances.

I listened and connected to what the Indigenous people were saying and their strong connection to land, sea and nature.

The dancers, the didgeridoo player, the guitar-playing singer and the community put on a fantastic performance.

One dance spoke to me deeply. It was called the bee dance. The words: “don’t take everything you can.”

It reminded me of the Yakamia Forest, with all the struggles and fight that impacts the community.

Would this not be the perfect timing, being the 50th year of NAIDOC, to save the forest for all. (That would be Deadly.)

Peter Rogers

Spencer Park

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