It was a clear morning in the Wolgan Valley as a crowd gathered for the annual Mingaan NAIDOC celebrations.
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Aunty Sharon Riley officially welcomed visitors to Wiradjuri country, which this year was the beautiful grounds of the Cranebrook School's Wolgan Valley Campus within in the Wolgan Valley. As well as traditional performances, the day was full of games and activities for all ages, with entertainment and cultural activities to continue this evening.
Hosting the day, emcee Lithgow City Councillor Darryl Goodwin said this year's NAIDOC theme 'Voice. Treaty. Truth.' highlighted the need for a treaty to be put in place.
"The lack of treaty in Australia goes to the very heart of the wound in this country," he said.
The absence of a treaty suggests an ongoing denial of the existence of, prior occupation and dispossession of Indigenous Australians, he said.
"It highlights a lack of engagement and relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians."
Cr Goodwin said a treaty would be important in that it could provide symbolic recognition of Indigenous sovereignty and prior occupation of the land and redefine and restructure of relationships between Indigenous people and White Australia.
"That's what we have to work towards, but on a day like today, let's all get together and let's have a good time," he said.
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