Kwinana NAIDOC celebrations begin

Kwinana's indigenous heritage and history were celebrated on Monday with the start of the annual NAIDOC celebrations at a ceremony at The Zone.

National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee Week is commemorated across Australia and Kwinana’s celebrations began with a smoking ceremony and a welcome to country by Marie Taylor.

Winners of the community awards were announced and the audience was entertained by a special performance by the Yonga Boys as well as the Medina Primary Choir and Gilmore College Drumbeat.

Mooditj Koort manager Jonathan Ford was emcee and explained the NAIDOC theme for 2012, which is the 40th anniversary of the Tent Embassy in Canberra.

‘‘They were fighting for our rights and we’ve still got a long way to go,’’ he said.