2020 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the year, Grant Syron, spoke to us recently about his achievements and what NAIDOC week means to him.
"I'm a proud Indigenous man from Biripi country, which is in northern New South Wales. The language spoken there is Gathang.
I'm a Merchant Seaman that loves going out to sea and spending time with my family when I am at home. The biggest thing that I am proud of in my life is getting my Watchkeepers certificate, and the expected birth of my baby boy.
This years NAIDOC theme "Heal Country" means a reconnection to country, and listening to the true custodians of this land".
NAIDOC 2021 invites the nation to embrace First Nations’ cultural knowledge and understanding of Country as part of Australia's national heritage and equally respect the culture and values of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders as they do the cultures and values of all Australians.
Heal Country! – calls for all of us to continue to seek greater protections for our lands, our waters, our sacred sites and our cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration, and destruction.
NAIDOC Week 2021 will be held from Sunday 4 July to Sunday 11 July.