Sunday, July 3 marked the start of NAIDOC Week celebrations for Australia, with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists joining together to produce an exhibition entitled Loongana (Run Together) in the Huon Valley, taking place in the ARTBOX and Huon Valley Hub.

The exhibition, curated by Deb Cobern, featured participating artists Belinda Casey, Deb Cobern, Bron Englert, Carla Herweynen, Gemma O’Rourke and Kris Schaffer.

Part of launching the exhibition and celebrating the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for NAIDOC Week involved a Welcome to Country and a Smoking Ceremony and an Ochre Ceremony.

Loongana, meaning Run Together in the language of the peoples of southeast trouwunna, the melukerdee nation, coincides with the theme for NAIDOC Week 2022 of Get up, Stand up, Show up.