Looking beyond NAIDOC
It’s NAIDOC Week, a celebration of indigenous history, culture and people. People from all walks of life are encouraged to celebrate NAIDOC Week, which in Cairns has featured everything from parades through to the much-loved Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF). So to mark this very happy week, we feature a list of some of the best indigenous experiences you can encounter across the Far North not just this week, but all-year round.
IT’S NAIDOC Week, a celebration of indigenous history, culture and people.
In Cairns the week is celebrated in many ways from parades through to the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF).
So here are some of the best indigenous experiences you can encounter across the Far North all-year round.
TJAPUKAI ABORIGINAL CULTURAL PARK
This attraction at Smithfield is an international tourist drawcard. You can watch a production of the Creation Story, featuring actors interacting with holographic projections; live performances by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dancers; you can learn about rainforest bush foods, poisons and medicines; learn how to play a didgeridoo, and learn about men’s hunting and punishment lores. Try your hand at throwing a boomerang and spear. There is also boomerang painting, weaving and jewellery making.
MOSSMAN GORGE CENTRE
There was a time when the road to this swimming hole was chock-a-block with cars.
Nowadays, there is a tourist centre and shuttle bus you can catch down to the freshwater creek. But there’s so much more to this natural attraction. The centre is run by the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people, who offer great tours. There are walking tracks through the rainforest to explore, and you can visit a sacred ceremony site, learn about local culture and watch a soap and ochre paint making demonstration.
QUINKAN COUNTRY ROCK ART
This us a must for those exploring Cape York. Stop at the small town of Laura, 130km west of Cooktown. Famous for its rock art, this part of the Cape contains a large body of rock paintings estimated to be up to 30,000 years old. They are also listed by UNESCO as among the world’s top 10 rock art sites. The Quinkan and Regional Cultural Centre in Laura has rock art tours, which range from one to three hours with local operators, who can interpret the ancient paintings and share the stories associated with the landscape.
ART CENTRES
If you’ve been impressed with the artworks at CIAF, then visit the region’s indigenous art centres. You can find masterpieces at the Girringun Arts Centre in Cardwell; Jidda Arts at Innisfail, the Yarrabah Arts Centre, UMI Arts on Sheridan St in Cairns North, the Mossman Gorge Art Gallery, the Janbal Gallery at Mossman, and the Wujal Wujal Art Gallery. There is also a gallery in the indigenous community of Aurukun, where you meet the artists. Contact Aurukun Community Council on (07) 4060 6800 or visit www.aurukun. qld.gov.au to apply for a permit in advance of your visit.