| |
Media Release
3 August 2006
Statement by SNAICC Chairperson
Ms Muriel Bamblett for National Aboriginal and Islander Children's
Day, 4 Friday 2006.
National Aboriginal and
Islander Children's Day, 4 Friday 2006
Celebrating
Indigenous Culture Across the Land
All across Australia this Friday communities will celebrate National
Aboriginal and Islander Children’s Day (NAICD). On the Gold
Coast 600 children will gather to enjoy cultural activities, Aboriginal
dancers, wildlife talks and exhibits; in Hobart kids will enjoy
traditional foods, including mutton bird, at a children’s
cultural activity day; in Geelong the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative
Milla Milla playgroup is organising cultural face painting, boomerang
and clap stick painting and a mural for kids to do; while in Port
Adelaide children’s services are holding a ‘stay and
play day’ in child care for parents and their kids.
Organised each year by the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and
Islander Child Care (SNAICC), the theme for 2006 is ‘My
Culture is Me – I am Proud and Strong’.
SNAICC Chairperson Muriel Bamblett, AM said, “The theme highlights
the positive influence of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
child’s culture on their wellbeing.”
She added, “We need to tell our Indigenous kids that they
are valued and loved and that their culture is valued and respected.
The best protection we can offer any child is to give them a sense
of belonging. Culture can provide that sense of belonging and through
that belonging, resilience.”
“On this year’s Children’s Day rural, remote and
urban communities will celebrate culture with strength, pride and
confidence. Children’s services, schools and community groups
are being encouraged to hold activities that bring kids and families
together to share stories, experience Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander culture, showcase Indigenous arts, dance and music and
build pride amongst Indigenous children in their culture.”
Ms Bamblett said.
This year, SNAICC has used positive images of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander families for its annual Children’s Day poster
and produced an Activities Kit to assist children’s services,
schools and others to organise community events. SNAICC will also
launch a gallery of children’s artwork on its website at www.snaicc.asn.au/children
this Friday.
Ms Bamblett said, “The day is typified by the efforts of small
community services such as Gurlongga Njininj MACS in Perth where
the kids will create a mural on the day’s theme using natural
materials, vegetation, calico, and hand-prints. As the Prime Minister
said recently in reference to reconciliation it is the many small
things that make a big difference.”
“On August 4 2006 hundreds of small services will be making
a big difference to the well being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander children,” Ms Bamblett said.
For media inquiries,
contact:
Muriel Bamblett
– SNAICC Chairperson (03) 9489 8099
Julian Pocock
– SNAICC Executive Officer (03) 9489 8099
You
can download the full text pdf version of this media release here.
2006
Children's Day Events
Children's
Day
Children's
Artwork Gallery
If you would like to receive
NAICD posters, resources and other material in future years, please
contact the SNAICC office.
|
 |
