In 2023, Round 13 of the HART Sapphire Series will host the annual First Nations Round. This round was previously held during Reconciliation Week (26 May – 3 June), however is now in NAIDOC Week (2 – 9 July). Netball Queensland made this change after receiving advice from our First Nations Advisory Group.
Reconciliation Week is the most appropriate time to reflect on First Nations people's history in this country and focus on reconciling the past. Whereas NAIDOC week is the most appropriate time to celebrate everything that is First Nations and encourage everyone to also recognise, celebrate and pay respect to First Nations peoples, cultures, histories and their experiences in this country. Hence, the change of our First Nations round to mark NAIDOC week in 2023.
NAIDOC WEEK 2023 ‘FOR OUR ELDERS’
This year’s NAIDOC theme is ‘For Our Elders’. Across every generation, our Elders have played, and continue to play, an important role and hold a prominent place in our communities and families. They are cultural knowledge holders, trailblazers, nurturers, advocates, teachers, survivors, leaders, hard workers and our loved ones. Our loved ones who pick us up in our low moments and celebrate us in our high ones. Who cook us a feed to comfort us and pull us into line, when we need them too. They guide our generations and pave the way for us to take the paths we can take today. Guidance, not only through generations of advocacy and activism, but in everyday life and how to place ourselves in the world.
We draw strength from their knowledge and experience, in everything from land management, cultural knowledge to justice and human rights. Across multiple sectors like health, education, the arts, politics and everything in between, they have set the many courses we follow. The struggles of our Elders help to move us forward today. The equality we continue to fight for is found in their fight. Their tenacity and strength has carried the survival of our people. It is their influence and through their learnings that we must ensure that when it comes to future decision making for our people, there is nothing about us - without us. We pay our respects to the Elders we’ve lost and to those who continue fighting for us across all our Nations and we pay homage to them.
HART SAPPHIRE SERIES HEART
You might be familiar with this symbol by now. This is what we call our Heart. Designed by Aboriginal artist Rachael Sarra, a Goreng Goreng woman. This symbol represents our commitment to providing a culturally safe and supporting environment for all. This symbol is linked to the cultural symbolism of a meeting place. Meaning that when we gather together we are doing it in a way that is safe and supportive for everyone. No matter where you come from, we commit to providing you with a safe place to play, umpire, coach, and watch Netball with confidence in your own identity! Our Heart will be on every court for our First Nations round.