New home for festival

The Act-Belong-Commity Undalup Makuru NAIDOC Week Festival kicks of this Sunday and will for the first time be held in the Undalup Association’s new home in the Youth and Community Centre building on Bussell Highway.

The additional space has lent itself to a more diverse calendar of cultural events, which this year incorporates a bush tucker restaurant and market stalls selling Aboriginal wares throughout the week. The Makuru Menu is an anticipated highlight of the festival, open 10am to 4pm from Monday to Saturday and offering kangaroo meatballs, emu pies and bush tucker tasting plates.

Undalup Association vice-chairwoman person Rachelle Cousins said access to a kitchen and dining space was a boon for the festival. , which was previously run through pop-up stalls and markees at the ArtGeo precinct.

“We used to be more restricted with space and where we could hold everything,” she said.

“This year, the celebrations will be all in the one place and under cover, so no matter the weather it’ll be a great event.”

Maureen Baker, a local artist donating her crochet and knitwear to the market stalls, said passing on such gifts and knowledge to the next generation was vital.

“I got interested in Aboriginal culture when I learnt there were Aboriginal people in my family,” she said.

“I hope people will also learn about Aboriginal history and what actually happened to local people here through the festival.”

This year’s NAIDOC Week theme is Because of Her We Can, which celebrates the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to their communities.

The message, Walking on Boodja, is also being celebrated and has been incorporated into NAIDOC Week activities already through the creation of felt feet with messages attached.

In addition to this, new Undalup Association sponsors, Ventia, provided the organisation with plain canvas shoes on which attendees can paint.

The event’s other sponsor, Healthaway, also aims to promote healthy lifestyle messages through the festival, while Southern Ports also lent their support to help the festival come to fruition.

For more NAIDOC coverage, visit bdtimes.com.au.