NAIDOC Week is an annual event in July that is an opportunity for all Australians to come together to celebrate the rich history, diverse cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Over the past few years, we have celebrated NAIDOC Week through original artwork commissioned by local Indigenous artists from the Moreton Bay region with canvas artwork and permanent murals. Learn more about the artists and the artwork that has been featured at Westfield North Lakes below.

'For Our Elders'

By artist: Lauren Rogers

'For Our Elders' was an original artwork commissioned on canvas and utilised in digital format and was installed in large scale across Westfield North Lakes in July 2023.

The central circle represents our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders meeting to share wisdom, knowledge and stories from the Dreamtime, which have been nurtured and handed down through the generations over the past 65,000 years.

The Aboriginal iconography of the long oval shapes around the central circle are message sticks, an ancient tradition of communication. The message sticks were passed between different peoples, language groups and even within clans to make allies. Identifying marks inscribed into the stick would convey the message between groups. When messengers entered another group’s Country, they would first announce their presence with smoke signals so that they would be taken safely with the message stick to the Aboriginal Elders, to whom they would speak their message.

The ochre-toned and blue circle icons around the central circle depict the land and waters. Country is our Mother, and we honour, respect and nurture our precious connection to Country.

This painting honours Our Elders: The importance of intergenerational connection to our Elders, culture and Country during NAIDOC Week.

About the artist: Lauren Rogers

Lauren Rogers is a Contemporary Australian Indigenous artist, author and digital designer with ancestral bloodlines to Ngarabal Nation.

Art is an important platform for Lauren to share her culture, and she hopes people connect with the stories and meaning behind her work to learn more about First Nations’ culture, history, stories and language.

Lauren’s artistic vision and inspiration come from the changing landscapes of her adventures around Australia. She uses layers of fine dotting, line work, colour gradients, and Aboriginal symbolism/iconography, and loves to use bright colours that show extreme contrast and capture imagination.

Most people would recognise Lauren’s work through her canvases’ vibrant colours and intricate details.

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'The Mural'

By Muja Mundu Creations Artist: James Doyle - Kabi Kabi descendant

This artwork was an original piece commissioned as a mural for the centre entry, near Heritage Bank in July 2022 for NAIDOC Week by local Indigenous artist James Doyle and his daughter Tahlia.

The Story

The painting depicts the story of the mullet season and how the old people had an ongoing connection with the dolphin. The old people utilised the dolphin and tamed them to help hunt the mullet and with their spears they would tap them on the water to make a percussion sound along with traditional song they would call the dolphin towards the shore.

The dolphin would push the mullet towards the shore where our people would be hunting with nets and spears. Before this would happen, the old people waited for the sea eagle to take the first fish as this was a sign that we were allowed to hunt. The sea eagle could see the schools of mullet travelling north and would wait for the strongest schools to travel through first before starting the hunt. Once the mullet was caught the old people would share their catch with the dolphin.

The Meaning

The sun in the painting represents the start of the new day and hunting season. The circles and U shapes represent the meeting place along the coast and the U shapes and tear drop with criss-crossing lines represent fishing nets. The turtles, humpback whale and dugongs represent the ongoing connection Kabi Kabi / Gubbi Gubbi people have with the sea and the animals within it.

The swamp area with bullrushes and water lilies represents our women utilising traditional plants for food and weaving materials. The kangaroos represent a sustainable food source as we used the kangaroo for their coat to keep us warm, the meat for food and their bones for tools.

View the creation of the mural here .