Aboriginal people in Tasmania have begun marking NAIDOC Week's 50th iteration with ceremonies and events held across the state.
In the south, mob, allies and dignitaries gathered at Risdon Cove on Hobart's eastern shore to celebrate this year's theme - 'The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy'.
Addressing the crowd of hundreds, Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre campaign coordinator, Nala Mansell, said this year's theme honours past generations through the actions of young Aboriginal people.
"Our Elders fought their whole lives against racist policies that said we didn't exist, so seeing young people today caring for countries, speaking their language and speaking about our rights … it really honours every single Aboriginal person who's gone before them," she said, The Mercury reports.
Flag raising ceremonies were also facilitated by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre in Launceston and Burnie.
A strong crowd also attended a flag raising ceremony and cultural event at Tiagarra, the Aboriginal Cultural Centre in Devonport on the state's north-west coast.
Tiagarra chair Dave Mangenner Gough told the crowd Indigenous youth are the future of a strong Aboriginal culture in Tasmania.
"This is about the next generation… This ain't about you and me, it's about these people, our young people growing into leaders," he said.
"Our young people have young people and their kids are here, and they're growing up with the ballawinne, the ochre on them.
"They're growing up in song and dance. And we do culture, that's what we do."
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At Wybalenna on Flinders Island, the site of a British settlement where Aboriginal Tasmanians were forced to relocate during the colonial period, the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmaia (ALCT) held a flag raising ceremony.
There, junior rangers and the ALCT welcomed a crowd of some 70 people, where attendees celebrated "…the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, witnessing the strength of our young leaders".
"ALCT looks forward to our future together, particularly in the healing and sharing of Wybalenna for thousands of generations to come," the ALCT wrote on social media following the event.
"Thanks for all who came, it was so heartwarming to see so many community, family, friends and allies there."
A ceremony was also held on Cape Barren Island, south of Flinders, by the local Aboriginal Association, which included flag raising, traditional language and song.
NAIDOC Week celebrations continue across the state this week, with events set to be hosted by the South East Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation (SETAC) across Tuesday and Wednesday in the south, and by the Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation (CHAC), in the state's far north-west.
The week will culminate with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre's NAIDOC Ball at Devonport's Paranaple Centre.
A full list of all Tasmanian NAIDOC Week events is available via the Reconciliation Tasmania website.
