Celebrating NAIDOC Week 2023 at YPRL

NAIDOC Week is a significant celebration in Australia that recognises and pays tribute to the rich cultural heritage, contributions, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This annual event, held in the first full week of July, provides an opportunity for all Australians to come together, learn, and engage in activities that promote understanding, respect, and reconciliation. The 2023 NAIDOC Week theme, "For Our Elders," focuses on acknowledging and embracing this wealth of wisdom and experience, while also recognising the crucial role elders play in guiding younger generations.

NAIDOC Week events

YPRL has planned several events around NAIDOC Week this year.

• Wayapa Wellbeing Session at Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub: Immerse yourself in the healing power of Wayapa, an Indigenous wellness practice that harmonises mind, body, and spirit with the land. This session will guide participants through gentle movements, storytelling, and breathing exercises rooted in Aboriginal traditions. Experience a deep sense of connection and learn valuable techniques for well-being and mindfulness.
• Collaborative Community Art Activity at Diamond Valley Library: Join in a collaborative art project that celebrates Indigenous culture and be inspired with the beautiful Aboriginal artwork by Simone Thomson.
• Indigenous Plants with Wurundjeri Elder Ian Hunter at Lalor Library: Embark on a journey of discovery as Wurundjeri Elder Ian Hunter shares his knowledge and deep connection with the land. Explore the world of Indigenous plants found in the City of Whittlesea. 
• Code the Story of Dhinawan at Mill Park Library: Discover the fascinating world of coding while delving into the Gomeroi story of the Dark Emu, Dhinawan. 

• Toy Library Play and Learn at Lalor Library: Foster family connections and intergenerational learning through the Toy Library Play and Learn event. We offer a range of toys and games inspired by Indigenous culture, providing a platform for children and families to explore Indigenous stories, traditions, and games.

• NAIDOC Week Stories and Games at Whittlesea Library: Celebrate NAIDOC Week with games and stories presented and imagined/re-imagined by Indigenous peoples, with local Elder Uncle Ian Hunter in attendance. In partnership with City of Whittlesea, VACCA and the Whittlesea Playgroup.

From the Shelves

We've selected the following items from our collection that foster understanding and knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture.

Australia's ancient Aboriginal past: a global perspective

By Murray (Murray David) Johnson, 2020.

This book places the Aboriginal occupation of Australia within a broad framework of human evolution and habitation. The author discusses the pioneering studies that delve into the mists of antiquity, and he engages with current controversies, including the extinction of mega fauna, land management practices, and social development over many millennia. The extraordinary achievements of Australian Aborigines are revealed in all their complexity and the evidence surrounding the identity of Australia's first occupants is re-examined. The discovery of the Hobbits of the island of Flores show that proto-humans were edging towards the great southern continent; their capacity to cross the sea implies intelligence and organisation, but how far did their footsteps extend? This is just one of many challenging questions brought to life in this absorbing account of Australia's pre-contact history.

Auntie Rita: The Classic Memoir of an Aboriginal Woman’s Love and Determination

By Jackie Huggins, 2023

Auntie Rita is a revised edition of the bestselling and award-winning memoir of Aboriginal woman Rita Huggins first published in 1994. Rita battled dispossession, poverty, personal tragedy and racism to create a rich meaningful life, lived out during the momentous changes of the 20th century.

The original Australians: the story of the Aboriginal people

By Josephine Flood, 2019

The Original Australians tells the story of Australian Aboriginal history and society from its distant beginnings to the present day. From the wisdom and paintings of the Dreamtime to the first contact between Europeans and Indigenous Australians, through to the Uluru Statement, it offers an insight into the life and experiences of the world's oldest surviving culture. The resilience and adaptability of Aboriginal people over millennia is one of the great human stories of all time. Josephine Flood answers the questions that Australians and visitors often ask about Aboriginal Australia: Where did the Aboriginal people come from and when? How did they survive in Australia's harsh environment? What was the traditional role of indigenous women? What are land rights? How do Aboriginal people maintain their culture today? And many more. This bestselling account has been updated and is fascinating reading for anyone who wants to discover Aboriginal Australia.

For our Younger Readers

The echidna and the shade tree: An Aboriginal story

By Mona Green, 2004

The Aboriginal story of how the Echidna got its spines.

When the snake bites the sun: an Aboriginal story

By David Banggal Mowaljarlai, 2004

This book is based on a story told by David Mowaljarlai of the Ngarinyin people to Aboriginal children living in the Kimberly, Western Australia. The illustrations are adapted from their paintings of the story. David Mowaljarlai said, "We want our children to see the daylight and the sun go down on our land, the home of the Dreamtime, and to live there to their old age and really understand their culture."