ANDREW Barr has joined Yvette Berry to host a special flag raising ceremony to mark the start of NAIDOC Week 2015.

“This Flag Raising Ceremony is an acknowledgement by the ACT Government of the importance of NAIDOC Week, which this year runs from July 5-12,” Andrew said.

“This year’s theme is “We all Stand on Sacred Ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate”.

Yvette described the theme as a call for us all to respect the sacred significance of land upon which we all stand.

“This theme captures the importance of spiritual and cultural connections to land and sea for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, and provides an opportunity to honour those who’ve fought to protect and restore these connections.

“In Canberra we are fortunate to have a range of sites of significance. Canberra has more than 3,500 known Aboriginal heritage sites which indicate the extensive occupation and evidence that Aboriginal people have lived in the Canberra region for at least 25,000 years.”

“We’re lucky to have such important sites right on our back door and one of the most special is the rock art site at Yankee Hat in Namadgi National Park,” Andrew said.

“The paintings at Yankee Hat are well preserved and contain the first prehistoric drawings identified in the ACT.

“NAIDOC week is an opportunity for us all to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievement and to recognise the enormous contribution that Indigenous Australians make to our community and our country.”

For further information on NAIDOC week, and events in your area visit naidoc.org.au

[Lead Photo: Chief Minister, Salasie McCarthy and Krista Clarke (representatives of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community), and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Yvette Berry]