Jan Williams, local elder, helps us celebrate Naidoc Week.

Local Elder, Jan Williams explaining how to weave raffia.

Participants of the Maryborough event showing off their creations.

To celebrate Naidoc Week our library assistant and Butchulla woman Frances Gala helped organise a basket weaving event at both Hervey Bay and Maryborough Libraries.

Library Assistant Frances Gala, with her cousin Suzette Gala.

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Indigenous people. 

Butchulla Women - Frances Gala, Suzette Gala and Jan Williams. 

Jan Williams, local elder, shared her raffia weaving skills while discussing some of the steps in Australia's reconciliation journey  

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) runs annually from 27 May – 3 June. The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2017 #NRW2017 was ‘Let’s Take the Next Steps’.These dates mark two milestones in Australia’s reconciliation journey: The 1967 referendum and the historic Mabo decision, respectively.

Keep an eye out on our up and coming events found here for future library events.

Tags: #NRW2017 #NAIDOC #Frasercoast #libraries #Maryborough #HerveyBay #raffia #basket #weaving