4pm
Well, that's a wrap for our NAIDOC 2016 blog!
But, of course, the action continues with the NAIDOC Awards tonight and a stack of over the weekend.
Be sure to watch NITV News, coming to you from Darwin at 7.20pm, before our TV coverage of the NAIDOC Awards Ceremony at 8.30pm.
We'll also be tweeting the latest updates from @NITV, and you'll find me on Twitter @EllaMareeAB.
Happy NAIDOC Week and thanks for reading!
3.45pm
More action from today's NAIDOC march in Melbourne. Similarly to Darwin, veteran activist Robbie Thorpe says it's one of the biggest turnouts he's seen since 1970.
"It's a good time to be standing up strong for what we've always believed in," he told SBS.
"It's about recognition. It's about sorting some issues of justice for Aboriginal people and bringing that to light.
"I think we've always used the week for that purpose, to say 'we do exist, and we've got some issues here'."
Staying in Melbourne, posted this video of kids keeping culture strong in the heart of the city.
Activist Robbie Thorpe addresses a crowd at the NAIDOC march in Melbourne. (Charles Pakana) Source: Supplied
And on the topic of keeping culture alive in urban Australia, take a look at this article about .
Justice Nelson grew up on Jaara country in central Victoria before moving to Melbourne in her late 20s. She writes:
Coming from the bush setting to a fast-paced city lifestyle was really difficult. I had moments where I just wanted to run home. I wasn't so much missing people – I was missing my country.
2.45pm
Here's another stunning pic shared on social media - this time from last night's celebrations in Katherine, NT.
For a round-up of some of the best NAIDOC photos going around, have a look at BuzzFeed reporter Allan Clarke's latest article: .
2.30pm
I wrote about the importance of Indigenous languages, which have been a key thread throughout this year's NAIDOC Week.
I've just come across this campaign to save the Miriwoong language, spoken in the lands surrounding the remote WA town of Kununurra.
The Miriwoong language is on the brink of extinction, with only 12 fluent speakers remaining, all of them elderly and frail, as explained in this video by the Mirima Dawang Woorlab-Gerring Language & Culture Centre:
The cultural centre is aiming to raise $10,000 to fund a video series project to keep the language alive. You can .
2pm
Why do you march during NAIDOC Week?
Thousands joined today's NAIDOC marches in Darwin, in what organisers say is the biggest turnout in living memory. NITV asked some of the marchers why they take to the streets - here are some of their responses:
With protest marches around Australia, now might be a good time to revisit the roots of NAIDOC Week, which began as a Day of Mourning.
1.15pm
Here's some lunch time listening for you.
, a young Indigenous artist from Queensland, covered Odesza's 'Say My Name' for Triple J's Like A Version this morning.
12.45pm
More great material rolling in from marches across the country. Huge turnouts, and recurring themes seem to be land rights and treaty, with a familiar chant ringing out in Bundaberg and Brisbane.
12.15pm
Let's flash back to a lovely community event that happened up in Queensland earlier this week.
Almost 90 years ago, hundreds of Aboriginal families were forced out of their homes in the name of development. Most were forced to walk - many barefooted - more than 200 kilometres from Taroom to a new settlement at Woorabinda.
Many died on the eight-day trek. More than 50 tribes were crowded together in harsh conditions in the new settlement.
Aunty Ivy Booth, then seven, was among them.
This year, the Darumbul community has re-enacted the trek to coincide with NAIDOC week.
Aunty Ivy, now 97 and the last survivor of the original journey, met them at the end.
Walker Annette Dudley describes the final steps:
Aunty Ivy Booth was seven when she was forced to walk from Taroom to Woorabinda. Ninety years on, the next generation has re-enacted the walk to pay respect. Source: Supplied
It was really emotional when we were met by Aunty Ivy at the crossroads. It’s hard to describe retracing steps and reliving history and meeting the last survivor. We walked to the cemetery and had a minute's silence in a healing circle before the Corroboree.
Read the full story .
At the conclusion of the walk, the community forms a healing circle. Source: Supplied
11.45am
Time to check in on some events around the country...
The host city of Darwin has seen a strong turnout for its NAIDOC march:
There was a strong turnout for Darwin's NAIDOC march. Source: NITV
Marchers gather in Melbourne for NAIDOC Week 2016. Source: Supplied
Melbourne's Indigenous community puts its pride on show for NAIDOC Week 2016. Source: Supplied
Head in and say g'day to Jodan and League Nation Live team (word is they're giving away free LNL shirts!).
NAIDOC Week celebrations in Musgrave Park, Brisbane. Source: NITV
11.15am
Touching base with NITV News presenter Natalie Ahmat in the Top End now, where Darwin's NAIDOC march is underway.
A little story about Raintree Park where the march will end...
Nat says it's a special place for her, as her grandfather, John Ahmat, planted the two big Raintrees, which give the park its name.
We'll keep checking in with Nat throughout the day, and don't forget you can always see what she's up to on Twitter @nat_ahmat.
NITV News presenter Natalie Ahmat with the Raintree planted in Darwin by her grandfather around 1957. Source: NITV
10.30am
Wow, what a performance from The Koomurri Aboriginal Dancers at Penrith's Westfield shopping centre last night.
Westfield has more events at their Eastgardens, Penrith, Doncaster & Carousel centres today and over the weekend. Head to the and find your local shopping centre for details.
10.15am
Before I get too carried away with today's events, I have to mention that the season final of ABC's Cleverman aired last night, with social media users still struggling to recover:
The show was created by Ryan Griffen, who wanted an on-screen . Last month, I was lucky enough to meet Ryan along with lead actor Hunter Page-Lochard, who says the role is .
And there may be more Aboriginal heroes than you realise, as shown by this article on .
Cleverman is inspired by ancient Aboriginal dreaming stories (timely given NAIDOC's songlines theme). You can hear some of these stories, as told by cast and crew members to .
9am
Happy Friday everyone! The last day of the working week and the final day of our live NAIDOC blog.
It's been a huge week so far, but today promises to be even bigger, with some massive events planned:
- Brisbane's free will be held in Musgrave Park from 9am (they're marking 25 years of celebrating NAIDOC, so it's sure to be a big one!)
- In Sydney, another rainy day won't stop the at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) in Redfern from 10am - 4pm, featuring live entertainment, a talent quest, kids' workshops, a free massage and lunch for the elders and free flu shots
- There'll be NAIDOC marches across the country, including these events in and to name a few
- Of course, one of the biggest highlights on this week's calendar is the NAIDOC Awards Cermony, held from 6pm tonight in the host city of Darwin, and co-hosted by actor Luke Carroll and NITV's own Hannah Hollis. Unsurprisingly, tickets have sold out - but don't worry, NITV has you covered! More details on our coverage a bit later...
- Today also marks National Hoodie Day, a fundraiser for the aka AIME (I had the chance to do a cadetship with these guys a few years ago, and I can assure you they do great work to get Indigenous kids through high school and onto better things). Check out this year's hoodie below, and order yours . (See original image & the story behind it via the .)
AIME reveals its new hoodie for 2016. (Bega District News) Source: Supplied
