Logan residents will have their fair share of opportunities to celebrate local First Nations people this week.
NAIDOC week began on Sunday and will run until next Sunday 9 July, and there are many events avaliable for locals looking to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Logan’s First Nations residents.
The Logan NAIDOC Family Fun Day kicks at 9am on Tuesday 4 July and will run until 2.30pm at the Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct.
The event is being hosted by the Logan District Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Elders, and will feature a Welcome to Country, as well as smoking and flag-raising ceremonies.
The Fun Day is also featuring information stalls, a free barbecue lunch, activities for children, traditional foods for sale, a damper-making competition and a traditional weaving session.
A free bus pick-up and drop-off service is available to those hoping to go, operating from Slacks Creek Park’n’Ride, the Logan Central Kmart bus stop and Logan City Council across from the Logan City Special School.
For students on school holidays, a NAIDOC week performance titled The Spirit of the Dreaming will be showing tomorrow (Wednesday 5 July) from 11-11.45am at Logan Central Library and 2-2.45pm at Logan Hyperdome Library.
The performances will showcase Indigenous dreamtime stories through storytelling, puppetry, song and dance.
Indigenous languages workshops are also available at Logan Libraries and will be presented by Indigenous language educator Robert Ah Wing.
A different Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander language will be explored during each monthly workshop.
The first session is on Tuesday 18 July, from 6-7.30pm at Logan Central Library.
Lifestyle chair and Logan City councillor Tony Hall said the Logan NAIDOC Family Fun Day was a day to recognise and celebrate Logan’s rich Indigenous heritage.
“I encourage people to join in and experience all the great activities on offer such as yarning circles with the elders and didgeridoo-making workshops,” Cr Hall said.
“This year’s event is focused on the city’s elders as across every generation they play an important role in our community as cultural knowledge holders, trailblazers, advocates, teachers and leaders.”
Local councillor Teresa Lane said NAIDOC Week was a special annual celebration in Logan.
“The Logan District Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Elders has worked hard to pull together a special program of celebration which I know will be enjoyed by everyone,” Cr Lane said.
“Again, [the Kingston Butter Factory] will be the place to be for anyone who wants to be part of the day and we look forward to seeing everyone there.”
