Normally held in July, NAIDOC Week was rescheduled to 8-15 November due to COVID-19 concerns, but regardless of when it is celebrated, the event remains of national importance for all Australians.

A week borne from a day of protest, NAIDOC Week reminds us of the ongoing aspirations of our communities as they continue the movement towards justice and equality.

In Coonabarabran, local schools held events last week, with the Coonabarabran Aboriginal Land Council hosting its official opening inthe Town Hall on Monday, 16 November.

Following COVID-safe guidelines, the event attracted more than 100 people from across the local Indigenous community.

While elders Casey and Beryl Dowd delivered the Welcome to Country address, a number of students and individuals were invited to share their thoughts on the theme of this year’s NAIDOC Week - “always was, always will be.”

Coonabarabran Aboriginal Land Council chief executive officer, Monique Monzett

said she believed the theme reflected the integral relationship between the land and the Aboriginal people.

“It is amazing to think that the first footprints on this continent were those of first nations people,” Monique said.

“The families here in the hall today are related to those first nations people.

“Those two facts alone are major achievements themselves.”

Monique encouraged people to look back in time to a history that is more than 65,000 years old - the oldest living culture in the world.

“NAIDOC 2020 challenges you all to learn about the true history of this land,” she said.

“So, ask those hard questions, take that first step, because it is only when we walk together in this life that we will fix this nation.”