NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee.

Its origins can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920′s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

NAIDOC celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Under this year’s theme Voice, Treaty, Truth, NAIDOC Week is about the sharing of knowledge through voice, the desire for lasting agreements and an acknowledgement the truth.

• naidoc.org.au

NAIDOC Week 2019 at Holy Trinity will be celebrated in Week 10 – next week.

On Monday afternoon Year 3/4 Red will have their class liturgy focusing on the significance of NAIDOC Week.

On Tuesday afternoon the 3/4 grades will be having a session with an Aboriginal Storyteller, Larry Brandy. Larry will share some stories from the Aboriginal Dreamtime.

On Wednesday, during the middle session, the children will then split into vertical house groups. The groups will rotate through 4 or 5 activities. The activities will revolve around aboriginal land, language and culture.

Wednesday during the last session will see the same groups involved in a range of sporting games from the Yulunga sporting resource kit.

It will be a great celebration of all things Aboriginal and the significance of NAIDOC week.

We ask you to take some time next week to discuss the significance of NAIDOC Week with your children, and to pray for God’s blessings on our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters.

Kate Mertz and Mel Puyer (HT Aboriginal Contact Officers)