The theme that resonated around the country urges people to remember that we all stand on sacred ground. 

What was once a protest movement in the early 1900s highlighting the treatment of Aboriginal people, is now one of the most cherished weeks for the Indigenous community.

For the Yass Valley, the event was a chance to celebrate the region's Ngunnawal and Wiradjuri heritage. 

Ngunnawal Elder Eric Bell said this year's theme - ‘We all Stand on Sacred Ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate' - highlights the unique heritage in the local community. 

“My family were all born in Yass, we have lived here for a long time,” he said. 

“The Aboriginal community is not that big in the Yass Valley, there are probably a few hundred and not all of them come from here, but there is rich history here and within the people that live here.”

Mr Bell said that NAIDOC week is a great way to remember our history and where we have come from.

“It is a great celebration of culture and although I can’t be there to celebrate in my community this week, I will surely be thinking about all the people back home,” he said. 

The Ngunnawal and Wiradjuri clans, for thousands of years prior to the arrival of Europeans, were the original custodians of the surrounding areas of Goulburn, Yass, and Canberra. 

Paying homage to this history, the Ngunnawal Aboriginal Corporation, in partnership with the Yass Valley Council, organised the 2015 NAIDOC community gathering. 

Organiser of the event Katrina Higgins was thrilled at the turnout.

“It has been a great way for us to get the schools and community together in a celebration of history,” she said. 

“We had a lot of artwork done by the schools, it was a great way to join in, whether young, old, white, black or yellow, there is so much history here and it is great for the community to learn about it.

“They say they want to close the gap, this is great proof that we are doing that.” 

Over 80 residents from around the Yass Valley gathered at the entrance to the Yass Memorial Hall as Mayor Rowena Abbey conducted the opening speech.

She first payed respect to, and acknowledged, the Ngunnawal and Wiradjuri people who are the traditional custodians of this land and also paid respect to Elders both past and present.

Michael Bell took to the floor to speak about the importance of NAIDOC Week, highlighting that it is a celebration for all Australians shining a light on the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Cr Abbey highlighted the two projects that have just been completed in the Yass Valley. 

“Firstly, the Oak Hill Aboriginal Place Interpretative Signage project and secondly the Munnagai Yerribi walking track project,” she said. 

“These are projects that aim to educate the broader community about the wonderful history and cultural heritage of Aboriginal people in Yass.”

A silence then fell upon the crowd as the Aboriginal and Australian Flags were raised in unison, with the help of local students, in the official Flag Raising Ceremony. 

The ceremony was followed by cultural activities within the hall, entertainment by Johnny Huckle, face painting, a wonderful display of local art and a Boomerang workshop.

“Back when I was young we used to have a lot of education in and out of school about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island history,” Mrs Higgins said.

“I think we miss a lot of that these days, so NAIDOC week is a chance for us to embrace the chance to educate and pay homage.

“We have an incredible amount of funding for general education and health but there is a decline in funding for education into the history and culture of this heritage. That is something that I hope to change in the coming years.”

Mrs Higgins said she and the Ngunnawal Aboriginal Corporation spent weeks preparing for yesterday's celebrations and it would not have been possible without the support from the Yass Valley Council, the local schools, Rae Burgess Centre, Family Community Services and in particular Fiona Bush, whose hands-on help made it possible for the day to come together smoothly.

The Ngunnawal Aboriginal Corporation will be hosting two more events in the next two weeks. The first is ‘Pit-Stop’ which promotes men’s health and will provide different advice and workshops on each. It will be held at the Yass Memorial Hall on Tuesday July 14 from 10am - 2pm. The second is the 'Mura Gudi', a mental health workshop to be held at the Memorial Hall on Tuesday July 21 from 10am - 2pm, with guest speaker Chris Bateman from Beyond Blue.