NAIDOC 2024 BLAK, LOUD & PROUD AT CGS

– Emily Coleman, Indigenous Student Coordinator

Yuma! This year’s NAIDOC Week at Canberra Grammar School was a vibrant celebration of Indigenous culture, pride, and unity. NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee) Week is a national event held each July to recognise the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It invites all Australians to learn about Indigenous heritage, support reconciliation, and stand in solidarity with Australia’s First Peoples. The 2024 theme, ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak Loud & Proud,’ inspired powerful moments of cultural pride and resilience.

The week began with a memorable NAIDOC assembly featuring Professor Maree Meredith, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Indigenous Leadership at the University of Canberra, as our keynote speaker. Her words on strength, self-determination, and keeping the fire burning set an inspiring tone. Students Angelique McCabe and Yuie Stewart-Reid shared moving personal stories, and the assembly’s highlight was a spoken word performance by our twenty-eight Indigenous scholars, joined by students from Jervis Bay Public School. This heartfelt piece, crafted by CGS Indigenous Student Coordinator Emily Coleman, celebrated cultural identity, community connections, and resilience.

Midweek, the School community gathered for the second annual NAIDOC Dinner. Alumni Mikayla Helms and Kaylah Upfield returned to share their journeys since graduating, inspiring current students to embrace their culture and speak with pride. The evening was filled with awards, trivia, and joyful moments, creating a sense of unity and purpose.

Throughout NAIDOC Week, our School lived the theme ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak Loud & Proud,’ embracing it as a call to uphold cultural pride and connection. As Yuie Stewart-Reid eloquently expressed, ‘What are you each doing to keep the fire burning? Even the tiniest spark can ignite a fire that connects us all.’

Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who contributed to this remarkable week. Your passion and commitment helped make NAIDOC 2024 unforgettable. We look forward to seeing our CGS community continue to keep the fire burning!