The 2023 NAIDOC Smoking Ceremony was held on the lawn at the Curragh administration building on 27 July. It was well attended by the Coronado leadership team and representatives of Coronado employees. Aunty Pat and several Traditional Owners conducted the Welcome to Country followed by the Smoking Ceremony and morning tea.
Hosted by Central Highlands Regional Council, the event for 2023 NAIDOC week – For Our Elders – was held in Blackwater on 28 July 2023. Coronado Curragh contingent led by Emma Pollard and Blair Whitney, joined community groups like the day care, primary and high school groups and at least two other mine site groups to march down a main street ending at Lions Park with a flag raising and traditional smoking ceremony with speeches, dance performances, morning tea, market stalls, BBQ, and children’s activities.
Opportunities
The shared morning tea was a perfect opportunity to come together with the Traditional Owners and strengthen our ties with the local community.
Coronado Curragh employee volunteers assisted with setting up the marquees and tables and chairs. We also donated ingredients for damper making activities for the schools. This was an excellent opportunity to promote the commissioned artwork by Indigenous Artist Roxanne Oakley, which was turned into a label for Coronado water bottles which were distributed throughout the event.
Outcomes
The sea of blue shirts marching behind the Coronado banner was impressive to see and sent a positive message of support to the Blackwater community from Curragh complex. Events like the NAIDOC Week Smoking Ceremony are part of Coronado’s commitments set out in our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Our Reflect RAP initiatives build upon our strong partnership with representatives of the Kangoulu and Gaangalu peoples who are the Traditional Owners of the Curragh complex.
