NAIDOC Week is a powerful and significant time to honour the history, culture, and achievements of First Nations people. This year, Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation Hedland proudly marked 50 years of recognising and celebrating Indigenous voices, resilience, and cultural strength alongside the Yandeyarra and Warralong communities.
The 2025 theme, “The Next Generation – Strength, Vision & Legacy,” celebrates not only the accomplishments of the past but also the bright future ahead—one shaped by strong young Indigenous leaders, visionary communities, and the enduring legacy of ancestors.
In a heartwarming display of culture, unity, and celebration, Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation hosted its very first NAIDOC Week community lunch in the Warralong and Yandeyarra Communities marking a special milestone in the organisation’s commitment to strengthening connections across the Pilbara.
In collaboration with Yandeyarra School, Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation was honoured to attend the end-of-semester assembly and host a fun-filled stall for the children. We offered games and cupcake decorating activities, creating a joyful atmosphere. The day was also rich in cultural tradition and community spirit, with kangaroo stew, tails, and damper cooked in the ground and generously shared by local community members.
In Warralong, Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation hosted a community feast that brought together children from both Warralong and Strelley schools. Community resident Charmaine Orange cooked a traditional meal of kangaroo stew and damper, shared alongside a barbecue, fresh salads, and a delicious cake made by Mentor Kellie. The event was a vibrant celebration of culture, connection, and the next generation of Indigenous leaders.
“This is a proud moment for us,” said Regional Manager Christie Haynes. “It’s the first time we’ve delivered a NAIDOC celebration within remote communities like Yandeyarra and Warralong, and to see everyone coming together — smiling, sharing — it’s something special. Culture is at the heart of everything we do and today was about honouring that.
The events underscored the importance of NAIDOC Week not just as a celebration, but as an opportunity to acknowledge the strength, resilience and richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures. Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation hopes this marks the beginning of many more community-based celebrations in years to come, continuing to walk alongside communities in preserving and promoting culture for generations to come.