NAIDOC Week kicked off across the nation this week with the Australian flags raised at the Orange Civic Centre on Monday to acknowledge the celebration.
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Chair of the Orange NAIDOC committee Gerald Power addressed a crowd at the civic theatre, speaking about the importance of this year's theme: Voice. Treaty. Truth.
Mr Power said indigenous people in Australia have a voice which goes back over 65,000 years and now the fight is for that voice to be heard.
It wasn't until colonisation that our voice was bit by bit taken away
- Gerard Power
"It wasn't until colonisation that our voice was bit by bit taken away," he said.
Australia is the only Commonwealth country not to have a treaty with its indigenous people.
Last year Victoria became the first state to kickstart treaty negotiations, passing legislation for the creation of a representative body to help design a framework.
Mr Power said while things are moving "slowly" to get the treaty through parliament, this year's NAIDOC theme recognises the importance of working for recognition.
"The truth is our place in history isn't properly identified. To have our identity we need to get that," he said.
While internal events will take place across the city this week, including a Live Better afternoon tea, a Housing Plus luncheon and a celebration at Cadia, Orange celebrates NAIDOC Week in October, when the weather is a little friendlier.
This year Orange NAIDOC week will run from October 25 to November 1 - with a ceremony in Robertson Park and a street march on October 28.
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