Remarks by His Excellency Will Robinson at the NAIDOC Week: Evolutions Exhibition Launch

SAMOA, July 16 - 16 July 2024

I begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of these lands on which we meet.

I pay my respects to Samoa’s elders – past, present, and emerging – and celebrate your culture’s commitment to community and your enduring stewardship of your lands and oceans.

Talofa lava and thank you for joining us.

Marni naa pudni – or hello in the language of the Kaurna people, the traditional owners of the lands where I am from, Adelaide.

This morning’s event marks NAIDOC Week – a week that recognises the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

It is an opportunity for Australians to celebrate one of the oldest continuous living cultures on earth, spanning over 60,000 years.

To mark NAIDOC Week, we unveil our public exhibition titled ‘Evolution’, in partnership with the National Museum of Australia and the Gab Titui Cultural Centre.

The exhibition features the art of mask making from Australia’s Torres Strait Islanders, whose islands form a bridge between the northernmost tip of Australia and Papua New Guinea.

These masks, steeped in ancient custom and spiritual significance, are vibrant declarations of identity and cultural resilience.

They embody the stories, the spirit, and the enduring connection of the Torres Strait Islanders to their environment.

And we share a little bit of Torres Strait cultures today to demonstrate the threads of connection that runs deep across the Blue Pacific – across this vibrant moana we share together.

Last year we brought together First Nations and Samoan artists to collaborate on artwork.

These artworks, which we gifted to the Government of Samoa to mark its Independence celebrations, spoke to the power of collaboration and what we can achieve when we work together.

These artists not only learned from one another, but also discovered similarities in the way they express themselves in art and culture.

Similarly, today, I hope when you view the exhibition panels you see some of these threads of connection between Torres Strait and Samoan cultures.

But today’s event is also an opportunity to reflect on our difficult history and our journey of reconciliation with Australia’s First Peoples.

Reconciliation is about recognising the wrongs of the past and committing to a future of respect, partnership, and genuine equality.

This year’s NAIDOC Week theme, “Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud,” celebrates the unyielding spirit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The fire represents the enduring strength and vitality of Indigenous cultures, passed down through generations despite overwhelming challenges.

It symbolizes connection to the environment, to each other, and to the rich traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

It renews our commitment to acknowledge, preserve, and share the cultural heritages that enriches Australia as a nation.

Last month we were proud to raise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags in front of the High Commission.

It is part of our continued work to not only centre the voices and perspectives of First Nations people in our national dialogue, but also to amplify these voices and perspectives on the global stage.

We look forward to hosting future exhibitions that showcase the rich culture and traditions of Australia’s First Nations peoples.

I end my remarks this morning by expressing my hope of a deep and ongoing exchange between First Nations people of Australia the Pacific.

Thank you for joining us and being part of our NAIDOC Week celebrations.

Enjoy the exhibition, and may it inspire reflection and connection.

Fa’afetai tele lava. Soifua ma ia manuia.