NAIDOC Week in July each year gives all Australians the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the histories and cultures of our First Peoples. Sr Christine recalls celebrating the week in Kununurra during her years in the Kimberleys.
The theme for NAIDOC Week 2025 is looking to the future, wanting to be open to the voices of the new generation and helping the young to embrace their culture and history.
As we come to celebrate another NAIDOC week, my mind goes back to all the celebrations that I was part of during my seven years in Kununurra in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
In 2008, there was an invitation for any Josephites who were free to join the Kununurra community and work among the Aboriginal people. After much discernment, I was given the “Go Ahead” and moved to Kununurra to be with Sisters Alma and Anne. I also worked in Warmun and Gibb River Station.
I was the Chaplain at St Joseph’s School and so was very involved in school activities. The aboriginal teaching assistants would organise activities for NAIDOC week. This would include aboriginal dances and music, painting and other art, cooking damper and sharing other local fruit and berries.
I was really delighted to be immersed in Aboriginal culture. One time a little girl painted my face and she said, “Now you can dance.” It was a beautiful time for the children to celebrate who they were. I loved being part of it.
We always attended the NAIDOC parade in the main street and many of the young people would walk in the parade, waving the aboriginal flag.
There were classes in the native Mirrawong language and the young people were very amused by my mispronunciations.
It was always a time for celebrating heritage and family.
The theme for 2025 puts an emphasis on the future where new voices will be heard. The hope is that as the elders age, there will be others, strong in their culture, to step into their leadership roles.
Christine O’Connor RSJ