By Jessica Anstice
The team at Casey Cardinia Libraries (CCL) will be celebrating National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week with this year’s theme ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’.
Throughout November, CCL will be hosting a range of events, from podcasts to story times, talks and more to recognise that First Nations people have occupied and cared for Australia for more than 65,000 years.
“Casey Cardinia Libraries have actively participated in NAIDOC week celebrations for a number of years,” CCL CEO Chris Buckingham said.
“It is a great way for people across the region to acknowledge celebrate the rich contribution aboriginal people make to our community.
“We still have so much more to learn and NAIDOC week is a great opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the world’s oldest living culture.”
To kick the week off, CCL will host a Poetry and Prose in Conversation event from 10.30am to 12pm on Monday 9 November.
Residents will be invited to join Aunty Rita Fisher and Aunty Anni Cockburn for a literary treat of poetry and prose as they come together in conversation, followed by a lively Q and A session.
Later that day, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Science and Innovation session will be held via Zoom, from 4.30pm to 5.30pm.
CCL will welcome proud Gamilaraay woman Brownwyn Cochrane for a live interactive webinar focusing on three amazing Australian Indigenous innovations – fire stick farming, fish traps and weirs (aquaculture), and weaving, rope and nets.
From 11am on Tuesday 10 November, members can join Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria’s Aboriginal learning facilitators for a virtual tour through Cranbourne Botanic Gardens to explore and learn about common bush food plants that can be grown in backyards.
Thursday 12 November will see astronomer Karlie Noon share her passion for all things outer space, as well as giving some insight into how First Nations people interacted with the stars.
To finish off the week, a story time session via Zoom will be had with Aunty Fay Muir.
Families will be invited to listen as Boonwurrung and Wamba Wamba Elder Aunty Fay shares stories around the theme of family and the important place that family holds in First Nations culture.
For more information, head to: https://www.cclc.vic.gov.au/naidoc-week-2020/
