CHRIS Bourke says four flags were raised this morning as part of the ACT Government’s Official Flag Raising Ceremony to commence NAIDOC Week in Canberra, which is being celebrated from 3 July to 10 July this year.

Chris joined Australian of the Year David Morrison AO and descendent of the Murawari people Belle Whyte to raise the flags. Descendent of the Waanyi and Garawa peoples of the Northern Territory/Queensland Border and Kaureg people of the Torres Strait Islands, Reggie Hodges, also raised the Torres Strait Islander flag.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags have become widely recognised symbols of the unity and identity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” Chris said.

“Harold Thomas, a Luritja and Wombai man from central Australia, designed the Aboriginal flag in 1971 during the land rights movement, and it was designed to be an eye-catching rallying symbol for the Aboriginal people and a symbol of their race and identity.

“The Torres Strait Islander flag was designed by the late Bernard Namok in 1992, and this flag is emblazoned with a white Dhari (headdress) which is a symbol of Torres Strait Islanders.

“In July 1995 the Australian Government recognised both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags as official ‘Flags of Australia’ under the Flags Act 1953.”

Chief Minister Andrew Barr, who also attended the ceremony, said that the Flag Raising is an acknowledgement by the ACT Government of the importance of NAIDOC Week and features as an official annual activity in the ACT calendar of celebrations.

“The theme for NAIDOC Week this year is ‘Songlines: The Living Narrative of our Nation’, which carry significant spiritual and cultural connection to knowledge, customs, ceremony and lore of many Aboriginal nations and Torres Strait Islander language groups,” Andrew said.

“I’m very pleased the ACT Government is able to show a continued commitment to seeing positive change in all areas for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs.

“We show this commitment not just by supporting formal events like the Official Flag Raising Ceremony and NAIDOC Week, but also with recent budget commitments such as an additional $2.3 million investment over four years to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Canberra.”

For more information on NAIDOC Week visit naidoc.org.au

[Photo: Reggie Hodges, Belle Whyte, Chief Minister Andrew Barr, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Chris Bourke and Australian of the Year David Morrison AO after raising the Torres Strait Islander, Aboriginal, ACT and Australian flags as part of NAIDOC Week celebrations outside the Legislative Assembly this morning.]