Flag upgrade to mark NAIDOC Week

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags are to become a “permanent” fixture at Moreton Bay Regional Council’s three administration centres and two chambers.

Mayor Peter Flannery said the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags will fly permanently alongside the Australian flag as a reminder of our shared history.

“NAIDOC Week 2022 (July 3-10) asks us to go beyond acknowledgement, good intentions, and empty words," the Mayor said.

“So I hope these flags will remind everyone that we live on the country of the Jinibara, Kabi Kabi and Turrbal traditional custodians who are the First Nations Authorities of the flora, fauna, languages and ancient cultures here in the Moreton Bay Regional Council area.

Perfect opportunity

“I want Moreton Bay to be a more connected and respectful place for everyone and NAIDOC Week is the perfect opportunity to do this, as part of our nation’s celebration of the history, culture, and achievements of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.”

Mayor Flannery said council has committed to the development of a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

“We have been doing this work over an extended period and are continuing to learn and evolve as a stronger and more respectful and committed council.

“But while we continue to make the RAP all that it can be for the future, we work to progress reconciliation at every opportunity.”

Examples include:

- The Local Languages project - a collaboration with the Kabi Kabi traditional custodians, community and council on a series of short films sharing stories connected to Kabi Kabi language.

- Council’s First Nations Storytelling Project continues to collect oral history interviews recorded with local leading Elders who led their respective fields as true champions.

- Last year council’s fire management and cultural heritage teams began working with Kabi Kabi and Jinibara traditional owners to do pre and post-burn cultural heritage surveys on country.

Using their knowledge to do cool burns to preserve the trees as well as protect any cultural heritage and target the undergrowth. This will be ongoing partnership.

- Kabi Kabi Traditional owners recently asked council to work with the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) to salvage trees that need to be cut down for the Bruce Highway. These have then been installed or used to create habitat stacks on council land creating hollows and refuges for wildlife.

- The Queensland Indigenous Football Carnival, the Murri Rugby League Carnival, and Moreton Bay Murri Expo are also examples of self-determination, sharing and collaborative ways that included Traditional Custodians in the first instance.

During NAIDOC week everyone is invited to reflect on how we can contribute to positive and permanent change for a better Moreton Bay for us all, and for the generations that follow.

For more information on NAIDOC events in the Moreton Bay area visit: https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/Events/NAIDOC-Week