And what a week it was.

Event, after event highlighted the talent and determination of our indigenous community. 

The week began with a remembrance march through the main street, a chance to recognise former and current indigenous servicemen and women.

This tied in with the national theme, Serving Country: Centenary and Beyond.

The Black Cockatoo Art Award exhibition launched on Tuesday. 

It highlighted the level of creative talent of both professional and amateur Aboriginal artists in the Shoalhaven.

The NAIDOC Week Family Fun Day at the Nowra Showground was the 10th anniversary of the event and blew all expectations out of the water. 

Events like this can struggle in the last hour or so, but the Family Fun Day showed no sign of slowing down right up until the end.

The day was a drug, alcohol and smoke free event which focused on health and wellness.

The culmination of the week will be the NAIDOC Ball tonight and this year, as well as the fun of comedians and musicians, will be a chance to officially recognise indigenous servicemen and women.

Throughout the week, there were no doubt countless other celebrations going on in homes and workplaces.

In the light of the Prime Minister’s comments that Australia was “unsettled” prior to white colonisation, NAIDOC Week has been a timely reminder that many nations inhabited this country well before 1788.

From what we have observed over this week, many of our indigenous residents are settled – in who they are and what their place and purpose is.

It’s up to the rest of us to get on board with that.