NAIDOC Week 2008

Sunday 6 – Sunday 13 July
11am – 12 noon
The Hall
Free
This daily tour through the Gallery of First Australians provides an insight into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' history, cultures, spirituality and connection to country.

Participants from the 2007 Didjeridu competition. Photo: Lannon Harley.

Sunday 6 July 2008
1–2pm
The Hall
Free
The National Museum of Australia, in association with Corroboree Man Phillip Yubbagurri Brown, is pleased to announce the Annual Didj Competition. This year's competition will be held during NAIDOC Week on Sunday 6 July 2008 in the Hall at the National Museum of Australia from 1pm.

Participants will have the opportunity to perform for an audience using their own didjeridu and should arrive at the Museum no later than 12.15pm on the day to register.

Prizes will be awarded for:

• best solo didjeridu performer
• best original artwork on a didjeridu
• best junior didjeridu player (aged under 16 years)
• most unique didjeridu.

Please note: to respect traditional customs, we encourage only men and boys to play the didjeridu in public.

For more information contact:

Phillip Brown
Corroboree Man
0421 983 309

or

Alexandra Johnston
Senior Coordinator Audience Development & Public Programs
National Museum of Australia
Email ajohnston@nma.gov.au
Telephone (02) 6208 5461

Wiradjuri Echo. Photo: George Serras.

BOOKED OUT
Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 July 2008
2–3pm
The Hall

Join Indigenous artist Duncan Smith in this traditional Indigenous dance workshop for children. Suitable for primary school-aged children.

Cost: $7 per child; $5 for Friends.
Bookings essential on (02) 6208 5021

Wednesday 9 July 2008
2–4pm
Friends Lounge
Free
Explore this sometimes overlooked story of activism — Aboriginal protests of the 1920s and 1930s. Join Professor John Maynard (activist Fred Maynard's grandson), from the University of Newcastle, for an informal discussion with some of the original political activists.

Saturday 12 July 2008
10.30am – 2.30pm
The Hall and AIATSIS Amphitheatre
Free

Family activities held in the National Museum's Hall:
11am - 2pm
Dhari a Krar: Headdresses and masks
Create your own mask or headdress inspired by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artefacts.

Warren Saunders – Didjeridu playing and making
Discover the art of playing and making didjeridus.

Larry Brandy – Storytelling and Indigenous tools
Larry Brandy, a local Wiradjuri storyteller and 2008 ACT Indigenous Person of the Year, will demonstrate the use of different Aboriginal tools and weapons.

Vikki Parsley – Indigenous weaving demonstration
Using the traditional techniques of Aboriginal women on the eastern coastline, children can try weaving using a range of materials including raffia, wool and feathers.

Janet Fieldhouse – Ceramics demonstration
Janet, winner of the 2007 Indigenous Ceramic Award uses traditional Torres Strait Islander techniques in her hands-on clay demonstration for children.

Outdoors at AIATSIS Amphitheatre:
A free, family-friendly celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, with market stalls, arts and crafts, food and a concert featuring Troy Cassar-Daley, Deline Briscoe, Adam James and The Brolga Boys.

For further information visit the AIATSIS website.