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1. Mangal Bungal: Clever Hands

   Taking place during NAIDOC Week 2023 and coinciding with the last days of Connections across the Coral Sea: A story of movement, the Dingaal community from the northeast coast of Australia will lead Mangal Bungal: Clever Hands: three-days of cultural events from 7-9 July 2023. Dingaal stories are e
2. Listen

   Talei Elu

   National NAIDOC Caring for Country and Culture Award Category

   

   Talei Elu is a Saibai Koedal (crocodile) woman from the small Torres Strait Islander community of Seisia in the remote Cape York, Queensland. Talei worked in Canberra for 6 years in the Indigenous Affairs sector for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the National Indigenous Australians Agency and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS). Talei has used her experience as an Indigenous Affairs public servant, creative media skills and community-minded activism to start initiatives in Seisia based around caring for Country, culture and community. 

   In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Talei returned home to Seisia to focus more of her time on community-based initiatives and activism that tackle structural issues through action and storytelling. Since returning home to Seisia, Talei has worked with the Australian Electoral Commission to enrol and educate more local Mob about the importance of voting. Talei also arranged for local women to receive free feminine hygiene products, baby necessities, and beauty and self-care items.  

   Talei also founded Seisia Sports and Rec, a free sports equipment hire initiative for youth to get involved in sport and sporting activities. Talei regularly organises beach clean-ups as a way to care for country and increase community involvement due to the amount of marine debris that washes up on the shores of Seisia. Talei was also recently named as the youngest Co-Chair and member of the First Nations Consultative Committee. The committee consists of 8 First Nations community peoples from different Queensland regions who provide consultative advice from their communities to the Queensland Government to develop the Queensland Indigenous Voice.  

   Talei also captures and records local stories and language through photography and film. Through Talei’s work in cultural preservation, media, photography, and her wide social media reach, she is able to amplify the voices of grassroots community people and catalogue and record aspects of culture and language.  

   Talei, along with community members of Seisia, has also been successful in lobbying government and Telstra to improve telecommunications infrastructure in her region. Incredibly, after a year-long struggle, she and her community have now secured Telstra infrastructure that would support 4G in Seisia and New Mapoon community on Cape York. 

   In 2023, Talei was the Queensland state recipient of the Young Australian of the Year Award for her committed work and advocacy for her community of Seisia. Talei is currently living between Canberra and Seisia, studying a Master of Applied Cybernetics at the Australian National University, learning about the interaction between systems, technology and creating sustainable futures.  

   Talei is also known for her creative talents, and between her Masters studies at ANU and community projects, also works part time for Common Ground to amplify and back First Nations voices, embed Indigenous knowledge’s across the education and legal systems, and work to strengthen cultures and languages for future generations. 

   Talei is a humble, driven and passionate community advocate who works at the grassroots level, identifying needs and creating solutions to ensure better outcomes for Seisia, the Cape York and Torres Strait, as well as the protection of her community, Country, culture and Language.

3. NAIDOC Week Talk

   Talk by the Northern Beaches Council Aboriginal Heritage Officer

4. Tamina Pitt

   Tamina Pitt, a Wuthathi and Meriam woman, is a self-confessed tech geek.

5. NAIDOC Debutante Ball

   The Tamworth NAIDOC Debutante Committee were founded in 2022 with the aim to see young, local Aboriginal men and women make their debut in the Tamworth community.

6. Celebrating NAIDOC Week at the Y Water Discovery Centre

   The Taungurung Land and Waters Council (TLaWC) has partnered with the Y Water Discovery Centre @ Yea Wetlands to celebrate NAIDOC Week, presenting an exciting program of exhibitions, talks and workshops that will run from 4 – 11 of July.

7. Tauto Sansbury

   Tauto Sansbury is a Narungga man from the Yorke Peninsula of South Australia. He also has Kaurna and Wirangu heritage and has been a tireless advocate for social justice for Aboriginal people for over 30 years.

8. Weaving Workshop with Taylah Eid

   Taylah Eid is a First Nations Koorie woman indigenous textile designer, artist and educator based in Naarm. Join her in making traditional Indigenous weaving. Suitable for ages 10-16.

9. Terri Janke

   Terri Janke was born in Cairns in Queensland, of Torres Strait Islander and Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal heritage.

   A proud Meriam and Wuthathi woman, Terri is a vocal advocate of stronger intellectual property protection for Indigenous artists.

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