Cairns NAIDOC march and Fogarty Park celebrations attended by up to 1000 FNQ citizens

Cairns CBD shook beneath the feet and thunderous chanting of a thousand passionate residents who gathered to celebrate NAIDOC week. SEE THE GALLERY

NAIDOC week provides inspiration to generations of Indigenous people in FNQ as each event is a chance to display and celebrate culture in a united atmosphere.

Many, such as Stacee Ketchell and Semara Jose, return each year to lead thunderous chants at the annual NAIDOC march, which hundreds attended today, waving their flags and banners with pride from Munro Martin Parkland to Fogarty Park.

But there were also new faces at the celebration this year, demonstrating that FNQ is becoming a safer environment for Indigenous people to display their connection to culture.

Stacee Ketchell on the megaphone at Cairns NAIDOC march 2022. Photo: Isaac McCarthy.

Injinoo and Moa Island man Lonnie Ware has lived in Cairns for 20 years, but chose this year’s NAIDOC march to be his first, an occasion that he described as empowering.

“It’s a chance to celebrate the fact that Indigenous culture is still here,” he said.

Several Indigenous people in the Far North have said this year’s NAIDOC theme – get up, stand up, show up – has encouraged them to be proud of their culture and be more outward in their demonstration of that.

Mahala Strohfeldt from the Cape York Partnership said NAIDOC week is an opportunity for all to celebrate Indigenous culture in a safe environment.

“It’s a week that’s a culmination of just the biggest celebration of culture, of people, of connection” she said.

“This is just the week where you can just fly your flags, wear your colours and you can feel safe doing it cause you’re with your mob from everywhere.”

The march flowed into a warm festival that included traditional dance, song and storytelling.

Gimuy performers Juritju and Lloyd Fourmile told the crowd of their ancestral stories, which included the origin of the crocodile.

More than 80 stalls, including government departments, schools, food and other small businesses, kept the crowd occupied between performances.

Cairns NAIDOC Committee chairperson Lynette Dewis said she was grateful for all the sponsors who made the events possible.

“We get so many of our mob participating at all our events and it gets bigger each year,” she said.

NAIDOC week events continue over the weekend. Men can attend a masterclass on the traditional practice of Kup Murri cooking at Idinji Community Centre from 9am on Saturday July 9.

The IMP Cairns NAIDOC 3km Fun Run, sponsored by the Indigenous Marathon Foundation, begins at the pirate ship on the Cairns Esplanade on Sunday with check in at 7am.

Were you in the crowd? Browse our gallery to see highlights from the event.

GALLERY: Cairns NAIDOC March and Fogarty Park Celebrations 2022

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Originally published as Cairns NAIDOC march and Fogarty Park celebrations attended by up to 1000 FNQ citizens