Delvene Richards

Administrative Assistant – TRACQS

“Djirri Nyurra Yaluguli (Hello), my name is Delvene Richards. I am one of the Indigenous TRACQS representatives for Kuranda NAIDOC 2021.

I am a proud Aboriginal woman of Djabugay and Ewamian descent. I was born and raised in Mareeba Far North Queensland and now reside in Kuranda with my partner and our 10 children and 5 grandkids and many family members of the local Djabugay tribe.

NAIDOC has been a big part of our family for many years. It is recognising, acknowledging, and celebrating the history and traditional culture of our Indigenous and Torres Strait First Nations People, through storytelling, songlines and traditional dancing.

This week of NAIDOC is a time of celebrating my journey of who I am, my people and my country with my children and family and the local community.”

Kaizi Graham-Oui

Employment Consultant – TRACQS

“Miam (hello), my name is Kaizi Graham-Oui, and I am one of the TRACQS representatives for Kuranda NAIDOC 2021.

I am a proud Torres Strait Islander from Erub (Darnley Island – Eastern Island) and Moa Island (St Pauls – Western Island). I have spent the majority of my childhood growing up in Kuranda, surrounded by family who have been residing here for the past 60 years. During my time growing up, we would regularly celebrate our culture through dance, songs, gatherings, and stories.  

As a young Indigenous man, NAIDOC week is important to me as I believe it is a great opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the history and culture of all local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

I believe this week is a time to pause and reflect on what NAIDOC means to us, both as individuals and collectively as a country.”

Yawor,

2021 NAIDOC Week

The NAIDOC 2021 theme – Heal Country! – calls for all of us to continue to seek greater protections for our lands, our waters, our sacred sites and our cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration, and destruction.

Country that is more than a place and inherent to our identity.

Country that we speak about like a person, sustaining our lives in every aspect – spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially, and culturally.

NAIDOC 2021 invites the nation to embrace First Nations’ cultural knowledge and understanding of Country as part of Australia’s national heritage and equally respect the culture and values of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders as they do the cultures and values of all Australians.

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