Black excellence and community leadership were honoured at the 2024 National NAIDOC Week Awards in Tarndanya (Adelaide) on Kaurna Yerta Country on Saturday evening.
The awards celebrated First Nations excellence, with 28 finalists in the running for 10 awards.
Aunty Muriel Bamblett won the coveted NAIDOC Person of the Year award, while Aunty Dulcie Flower AM received a Lifetime Achievement Award.
A fierce advocate for her community, Aunty Dulcie has been instrumental in improving health outcomes for First Nations peoples.
NAIDOC co-chair Aunty Dr Lynette Riley said all of those who were nominated and recognised as finalists "epitomise our ongoing fight for rights and demonstrate our ongoing excellence", and lived up to the theme of this year's NAIDOC Week theme, "Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud and proud."
"When I think back to the first calls to arms by our old people to challenge the Centennial Celebrations and to let the world know we have survived and held our ground for sovereignty in this Country, I know they knew the struggles were just starting and would continue for many generations," she said.
"I am in awe of all our people's strengths, perseverance and congratulate them all for keeping the fires burning."
Here are all of the evening's finalists and winners.
Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
Creative Talent Award Finalists
- Colleen Tighe Johnson
- Graham Akhurst
- WINNER: Naarah
Female Elder Award Finalist
- Aunty Flo Watson
- Aunty Glendra Stubbs
- WINNER: Aunty Millie Ingram
Male Elder Award Finalists
- Uncle Dr John Binda Reid
- WINNER: Mr Kim Collard — Balladong/Wadjuk Elder of the Noongar Nation
- Uncle Klynton Wanganeen
Youth Award Finalists
- WINNER: Dante Rodrigues
- Piper Stewart
- Ieyesha Roberts
Education Award Finalists
- Shelley Ware
- Dr Stacey Kim Coates
- WINNER: Warlpiri Education and Training Trust
Sportsperson Award Finalists
- WINNER: Alex Winwood
- Bailey O'Neil
- Natasha Leslie
Caring for Country and Culture Award Finalists
- Dr Theoni (Tia) Whyman
- Aunty Fran Bodkin
- WINNER: Alick Tipoti
Innovation Award Finalists
- WINNER: Tui Nolan
- Narelle Henry
- Common Ground First Nations
Person of the Year Award Finalists
- WINNER: Aunty Muriel Bamblett
- Georgia Weir
- Bianca Brackenridge