This week, the Australian high commission is celebrating the “Naidoc week”, around the theme: self-determination - our community - our future - our responsibility. In this context various activities are being organised.

A collection of books by indigenous authors was donated yesterday by the Australian High Commissioner, Mr. Ian Mc Conville, to the director of the National library of Mauritius, Mr. Yves Chan Kam Lon.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags are on display in the reception hall of the High Commission as well as indigenous artefacts, literature and art. Information on the touring exhibition “Kiripuranji: contemporary art from the Tiwi islands” is also available at the High Commission while the exhibition itself will be in Mauritius in April 2005.

During this week, all communities of Australia will celebrate the aboriginal culture and the contribution that indigenous Australians – the first inhabitants of the continent - have brought to the country. Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are ethnically and culturally different. This week is an opportunity to have a better understanding of these peoples, who represent 2.4% of the Australian population.

Other Australians do not really know about their culture because some 28% of these people live in remote areas. So this week is an opportunity to learn more about them and the way they live. There have been 250 indigenous languages identified and more than 700 dialect groups recorded throughout Australia. Some of their words are even part of the English language (an example is kangaroo). The Naidoc week constitutes an occasion for these people to show who they are.