ABORIGINAL and Torres Strait Islander flags were raised along the Berri river front last Monday to acknowledge the traditional start of NAIDOC Week.
NAIDOC Week events, which celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, have been moved from July to November due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however local organisers, in conjunction with the Berri Barmera Council, decided to go ahead with a small flag raising ceremony.
NAIDOC committee chairperson Aunty Christine Abdulla also performed a welcome to country at the ceremony.
Committee vice chairperson Rob Wright said the circumstances surrounding the event were “unusual”.
“Usually we’d have a much larger number of people attending the flag raising,” he said.
“This was just a short and sharp acknowledgement through a collaborative partnership with council to recognise the week even though the events didn’t go ahead as normal.
“It’s good acknowledgement from council too and their ongoing commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in their community.
“There are some added restrictions because of Aboriginal people being more vulnerable to the virus, so we just didn’t want to run the risk of having more people there for the flag raising.
“It was nice to do it and we look forward to doing things bigger and better in November.”
This year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations will run from November 8 to November 15.