Myrtleford held its second-annual NAIDOC Week celebrations on Sunday, with more than 200 attendees enjoying festivities including a traditional ‘Welcome to Country’ and ‘Smoking Ceremony’ in the Piazza.

Myrtleford NAIDOC committee member, Lee Couch said this year’s celebrations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture marked a powerful milestone of 50 years of honouring and elevating voices, culture and resilience.

“Thank you all: thank you to our Aboriginal people, to our mobs from surrounding communities and everybody else here for joining us today,” she said.

“It’s really about a healing journey of bringing everyone together in relationship and looking at what needs to be repaired on these incredible, traditional lands.”

Ms Couch said this year’s NAIDOC Week theme of ‘Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy’, celebrated not only the achievements of the past, but also the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our community and the legacy of our ancestors.

Traditional owners, Derek Murray and Thadra Frangos led attendees through the ‘Smoking Ceremony’ with the assistance of Louka, Derek’s son.

“NAIDOC Week is about celebrating everything special about being Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and what a great theme it is for NAIDOC Week this year,” Mr Murray said.

“The theme celebrates and emphasises the importance of honouring the wisdom passed down through generations and empowering the next generation of leaders.

“As a proud Aboriginal man, I believe my role is to offer my knowledge and wisdom to the next generation and create new leadership within our communities.

“We as First Nations people invite you all to gather this week and every week, to stand alongside mine and your Indigenous brothers and sisters, to connect, acknowledge, share, participate and most of all respect.

“A ‘Welcome’ is a practise given to people for them to have a safe passage and journey whilst on Dhudoroa Country and so I welcome you all to my ancestral lands of the Dhudoroa People.

“A Smoking Ceremony is a cleansing of the area and people of bad spirits to promote the protection and wellbeing of visitors.

“We cannot have a strong, united Australia without reconciliation.”

As Derek and Louka prepared the smoking brazier for a long line of participants, Thadra performed a guided meditation for all present.

Once the line was exhausted, commemorations continued with a traditional dance performed by girls from the Wagarra Dance Group, highlighting different styles featuring Kangaroo, Emu, Rainbow Serpent and Black Crow movements.

Attendees were welcome to remain and enjoy all the different stalls on location, including sand art, boomerang decorating, seed-planting workshop, weaving, as well as food and coffee trucks, with a free soup station inside at Bastoni’s hall.

“Today’s gone very well,” NAIDOC committee member,” Aileen Traynor said.

“It was a beautiful smoking ceremony at the start, with a great long line of participants this year.

“People have been loving the Johnny Cakes stall or damper, in other words.”

Sally Webster said she and her daughter, Noah went to the NAIDOC Week celebrations in Myrtleford last year and enjoyed it so much, they dropped by again.

“We also have Indigenous family members in our family,” Sally said.

“Going to events like this is important to help teach her about the culture.”

Dot Southerly said she thought a NAIDOC celebration in town was long overdue.

“NAIDOC Week is important for the recognition of Indigenous people in our area,” she said.

“I’m very glad to see it.”