Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said the history, culture and achievements of First Australians will be celebrated through a $1.4 million Coalition Government grants round that will support events to be held as part of NAIDOC Week activities in July.
The 2017 NAIDOC grants funding round is part of a $1.9 million investment that the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Nigel Scullion, has committed to support NAIDOC celebrations this year.
Mr Coulton said NAIDOC Week provided an opportunity for people in the Parkes Electorate to come together to reflect on the enduring identity and unique place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia’s history.
“This year’s national NAIDOC theme, Our Languages Matter, focuses on the importance, resilience and richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages,” Mr Coulton said.
“For First Australians, language is a way of linking people to their land and water and it is how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history has been shared through generations.
“The Coalition recognises the importance of Indigenous language preservation and has committed more than $20 million annually to help preserve Indigenous languages.
“NAIDOC Week events this year will celebrate Indigenous languages and the unique place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. Organisations in Parkes will be able to stage NAIDOC activities, like community marches, cultural business exhibitions or festivals for everyone to celebrate First Australians.
“I recognise the contribution of Indigenous Australians to the communities of Parkes Electorate and the important place they have in our community’s culture and history.”
NAIDOC Week 2017 will run nationally from 2-9 July. Details about the 2017 NAIDOC grants funding round are available on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website. Applications opened on 27 March and close on 27 April.