Jul 03, 2006

Aboriginals of Australia: Aboriginal Day Celebrates Indigenous Culture


The flags of the Aboriginals and the Torres Strait Islanders will be on display at the Australian High Commission, Nuku'alofa, next week to mark the National Aboriginal and Islanders Day of Celebration
The flags of the Aboriginals and the Torres Strait Islanders will be on display at the Australian High Commission, Nuku'alofa, next week to mark the National Aboriginal and Islanders Day of Celebration, NAIDOC.

The Aboriginal flag was designed in 1971 is rallying symbol for the Aboriginal people, and a symbol of their race and identity. The black represents the Aboriginal people, the red the earth and their spiritual relationship to the land, and the yellow the sun, the giver of life.

The Torres Strait Islander flag is emblazoned with a white Dari (headdress), a symbol of Torres Strait Islanders. The white five pointed star beneath it symbolises the five major island groups and the navigational importance of stars to these seafaring people. The green stripes represent the land, the black stripes represent the people, and the blue the sea. The flag as a whole symbolises the unity of all Torres Strait Islanders.

A statement from the Australian High Commission, Nuku'alofa, said that the seven-day celebration from July 2 - 9 will be commemorated by Australian diplomatic missions world-wide and in Australia.

The theme for this years celebrations, Respect the Past - Believe in the Future focuses on respecting, remembering, and celebrating Indigenous culture and also promotes looking to the future with optimism, believing in young Indigenous people and recognising the need to harness their capabilities.

NAIDOC has its origins in the fight for Aboriginal rights that began to gather pace in the 1920s and 1930s, when various organizations were established to draw attention to the conditions of Australias Indigenous people.
The Australian Government continues to be the major funding contributor to NAIDOC Week, supporting national focus activities and community-based events.

A highlight of other countries celebrations is the recently opened Musee du Quai Branly Museum in Paris, France also has almost 1,700 Australian indigenous art works and objects in its new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collection.