UnitingSA has premiered a moving short film to commemorate the theme for NAIDOC Week 2023 – ‘For Our Elders’ at a special community event on Wednesday 5 July, on Kaurna land in Port Adelaide, where it was also filmed.
The film, shown below, honours the role of Elders as knowledge holders, teachers, survivors and leaders, and pays homage to their strength and tenacity in paving the way forward.
It was created by UnitingSA team members Viviana Petyarre, an Aboriginal Family Worker, and Tashara Hague, a Senior Aboriginal Practice and Program Practitioner and Co-Chair of UnitingSA’s Reconciliation Action Plan Committee.
UnitingSA CEO Jenny Hall said she was proud to release the film more broadly during NAIDOC Week 2023.
“This project brought together a variety of voices to honour the knowledge and wisdom of Elders in our community, and speak to the shared challenge of keeping First Nations culture alive,” Ms Hall said.
“It is an important reminder for us all of the critical role Elders play as custodians of the world’s oldest continuing living culture.
“I would like to express my sincere thanks to our filmmakers Viviana and Tashara for creating this heartfelt tribute to Elders, past, present, and emerging.
“We pay our respects to all Elders.”