The history, culture and achievements of First Australians will be celebrated through a $1.4 million Coalition Government grants round to support events to be held as part of NAIDOC Week activities in July.
The 2017 NAIDOC grants funding round is part of a $1.9 million investment the Minister for Indigenous Affairs Senator Nigel Scullion has committed to support NAIDOC celebrations this year.
Federal Member for Forde Bert van Manen MP said NAIDOC Week provided an opportunity for people in Forde to come together to reflect on the enduring identity and unique place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia’s history.
“This year’s national NAIDOC theme, Our Languages Matter, focuses on the importance, resilience and richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages,” Mr van Manen said.
“For First Australians, language is a way of linking people to their land and water and it is how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history have been shared through generations.
“The Coalition recognises the importance of Indigenous language preservation and has committed more than $20 million annually to help preserve Indigenous languages.
“NAIDOC Week events this year will celebrate Indigenous languages and the unique place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia.
“Organisations in Forde will be able to stage NAIDOC activities like community marches, cultural business exhibitions or festivals for everyone to celebrate First Australians.
NAIDOC Week 2017 will run nationally from July 2-9. Details about the 2017 NAIDOC grants funding round are available on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website. Applications open today (March 27) and close on April 27.
