Doris Eaton has been named Australia's female elder of the year.
An elder of the Nyamal people of the North East Pilbara has been named Australia's female elder of the year.
Doris Eaton, who co-chairs the Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, received the honour at the annual National Aboriginal Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) awards in Brisbane.
Mrs Eaton has been involved in health programs for Aboriginal women and children, care for the elderly, and native title issues.
She is the matriarch for five generations of her own family.
On receiving the award, Mrs Eaton said she was driven by ensuring that younger generations learned strong culture and law from their elders.
"Preserving culture is important to keep traditions strong and makes sure the next generation has a sense of identity," she said.
"Elders need to teach the youth their language, dreaming stories and cultural practices.
"First learn your own culture and then you can be strong enough to move between the two worlds, to marry Aboriginal and mainstream cultures together." [rc]
Copyright © 2009. Fairfax Digital
July 13, 2009
AUSTRALIA: Pilbara woman named Aboriginal elder of the year
.
PERTH, Western Australia / WAToday.com / July 13, 2009
By Chris Thomson
Doris Eaton has been named Australia's female elder of the year.
An elder of the Nyamal people of the North East Pilbara has been named Australia's female elder of the year.
Doris Eaton, who co-chairs the Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, received the honour at the annual National Aboriginal Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) awards in Brisbane.
Mrs Eaton has been involved in health programs for Aboriginal women and children, care for the elderly, and native title issues.
She is the matriarch for five generations of her own family.
On receiving the award, Mrs Eaton said she was driven by ensuring that younger generations learned strong culture and law from their elders.
"Preserving culture is important to keep traditions strong and makes sure the next generation has a sense of identity," she said.
"Elders need to teach the youth their language, dreaming stories and cultural practices.
"First learn your own culture and then you can be strong enough to move between the two worlds, to marry Aboriginal and mainstream cultures together." [rc]
Copyright © 2009. Fairfax Digital
Doris Eaton has been named Australia's female elder of the year.
An elder of the Nyamal people of the North East Pilbara has been named Australia's female elder of the year.
Doris Eaton, who co-chairs the Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, received the honour at the annual National Aboriginal Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) awards in Brisbane.
Mrs Eaton has been involved in health programs for Aboriginal women and children, care for the elderly, and native title issues.
She is the matriarch for five generations of her own family.
On receiving the award, Mrs Eaton said she was driven by ensuring that younger generations learned strong culture and law from their elders.
"Preserving culture is important to keep traditions strong and makes sure the next generation has a sense of identity," she said.
"Elders need to teach the youth their language, dreaming stories and cultural practices.
"First learn your own culture and then you can be strong enough to move between the two worlds, to marry Aboriginal and mainstream cultures together." [rc]
Copyright © 2009. Fairfax Digital
