Wagga celebrates 'Blak excellence' for NAIDOC Week 2022

Wiradjuri woman Ashleigh Pengelly reckons this year’s NAIDOC theme says it all.

As Wagga NAIDOC Committee chair, she says there’s no excuse for community members of all backgrounds not to get involved in events across the region throughout the week.

“Like the theme says – Get up! Stand up! Show up! – and be just be present,” she says.

“We’ve made it really easy to get involved; there’s something on just about every day that you and your family are more than welcome to attend.”

NAIDOC week runs from 3 to 10 July and kicks off in Wagga with an opening ceremony on Sunday at 11 am.

“We’re putting it back out in the community and basing it from the Ngurra Hub (Blakemore Street, Ashmont), so hopefully more community can attend and be a part of it,” Ashleigh explains.

“A lot of community organisations have come out in spades to do quite a few events. So there are not many days during NAIDOC Week that there isn’t something on, which is good to see.”

The opening ceremony includes a Welcome to Country, the unveiling of a new art installation, activities for the kids and a morning tea.

Other activities across the week include a 3 x 3 “Deadly Basketball” gala, cultural walks, language and art workshops and numerous community events before wrapping up with the Marramarra Aboriginal Markets next Sunday (10 July).

Ashleigh, an accomplished artist specialising in hand-painted teapots, says NAIDOC week means different things to Aboriginal people.

“For me personally it’s become about acknowledging our achievements, culture and history and sharing that with the wider community,” she explains.

“It’s about celebrating our local heroes and standing in our culture, our voice and our strength.

“We (Indigenous people) often don’t like to big-note, but NAIDOC gives us a chance to stand up and showcase all the incredible work we’re all doing.”

Ashleigh says it can be summed up in two words.

“Blak excellence,” she says.

She also encourages the non-Indigenous community to keep the dialogue going all year round and says there will be additional NAIDOC activities in the coming months.

“We’re doing a Wagga NAIDOC Ball and awards on 10 September and tickets are on sale for that now,” Ashleigh says.

“It’s an opportunity for us to get all dolled up and get out there and have fun with everyone, and then we’re also doing a Color Run in September.”

For more information on the upcoming NAIDOC activities in Wagga, check out the committee’s Facebook page.