Cancellation of National NAIDOC Awards ceremony in Mparntwe (Alice Springs)
We regret to announce that we have decided to cancel the National NAIDOC Awards ceremony scheduled for Mparntwe (Alice Springs) on Saturday 3 July 2021.
The decision was made in consultation with the Alice Springs NAIDOC Committee and our key stakeholders in light of escalating community concerns and emerging issues about COVID-19.
Our first priority is keeping our Elders, our communities and our children safe during these uncertain times. After carefully reviewing the situation, we have decided that the most responsible option for us is to limit travel and large group gatherings in Central Australia which could result in community transmissions which will have devastating impacts on surrounding central desert communities.
NAIDOC Week will still be held from 4-11 July.
While the face-to-face event will be cancelled in Mparntwe, the National NAIDOC Committee will still be hosting a nationally televised gala event to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s achievements and cultures. More information will be provided on this shortly.
As part of this, the Awards Ceremony component of the event will be moved to a soon to be announced location. Attendance will be restricted noting emerging COVID-19 risks.
Like many other events and Indigenous festivals - keeping our communities COVID-free has always been our number one priority.
The decision – while difficult to make - was the right call-in terms of keeping our regions in Central Australia COVID free.
We sincerely thank the Alice Springs NAIDOC Committee and Alice Springs community for working closely with us over many months as we worked towards the gala Awards Ceremony in Mparntwe.
We are devasted at not being about to facilitate the event on Arrernte Country and we thank both the community and the Alice Springs NAIDOC Committee for working with us over the last 16 months.
However, we are working with the Alice Springs NAIDOC Committee and our partners to ensure that we can showcase and celebrate the strength, resilience and vibrancy of Aboriginal people and cultures in Mpartntwe as part of our national televised event.
This NAIDOC Week, let’s keep our mob safe by making sure our events and celebrations are held in a COVIDSafe way. Check your State and Territory website for further information. All States and territories have public health measures in place to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the community.