Keeping community strong

Traditional Owner groups across the Wimmera are striving to maintain strong community bonds during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although NAIDOC Week activities were postponed due to COVID-19, the Wimmera’s Aboriginal communities are staying connected virtually.

Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative created a video of 30 Wimmera residents sharing what NAIDOC Week means to them as part of this year’s theme ‘always was, always will be’.

The co-operative hopes to unite for a nation-wide celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history and achievements in November.

Wotjobaluk and Gunditjmara traditional owner Tanisha

Lovett said it was crucial Aboriginal communities stayed connected throughout the pandemic.

“We still need to stick together and get through this together,” she said.

Ms Lovett said the co-operative was planning for a November NAIDOC event.

She said she hoped the pandemic would be under control with less restrictions then.

“It’s very important not only to the Indigenous communities, but also all of Australia, to recognise, share and celebrate Aboriginal culture,” she said.

“It was a bit upsetting to not go ahead in July, but understandable, knowing that we need to protect our mob.

“The theme – ‘always was, always will be’, refers to our land, culture, language and recognising it always was and we will always have that – knowing that Aboriginals are the oldest continuous living culture on earth.”

NAIDOC Week celebrations will run from November 8 to 15.

National NAIDOC Committee postponed the July event to protect Aboriginal elders and people with chronic health issues from COVID-19.

The committee is continuing to work with partners and key stakeholders to make the 2020 event a ‘suitable and fitting celebration’.

Goolum Goolum also plans to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day on August 4, which is themed ‘we are the elders of tomorrow, hear our voices’.