Theme of this year's NAIDOC Week is 'Honouring our Elders, Nurturing our Youth'

On Sunday, 5 July, the NAIDOC Planning Group would like to invite the whole community to participate in a Town Procession beginning at 10am.

Participants will gather from 9.30am in the Post Office car park and will proceed along Welcome Street around Chamberlain Square along Clarinda Street to Cooke Park.

Activities and ceremonies will take place in Cooke Park following the procession including official addresses, flag raising ceremony, smoking ceremony and the announcement of the 2009 Annette Sloane Indigenous Youth of the Year Award.

There will also be Aboriginal Dancers performing followed by a free barbecue for everyone.

Other events during the Parkes NAIDOC Week celebrations include:

* Aboriginal Art Display, Parkes Shire Coventry Room - Thursday 2- Sunday 5 July

* Community Dinner Dance, Parkes Leagues Club - Friday 3 July at 6.30pm, tickets $35.

* Koori Careers and Services Expo, Parkes High School Hall - Tuesday 7 July.

* Wiradjuri Sign Unveiling, Peak Hill - Thursday 9 July, 10am.

Each event planned by the Parkes NAIDOC Planning Group celebrates Indigenous culture and language, as well as the contribution of Indigenous people to contemporary Australia.

The aim of the Parkes NAIDOC Planning group is to celebrate these achievements with the community as a whole.