Written by Julia Montesano
In the words of proud Torres Strait Islander man Michael Cedar, “Country is who we are”.
It’s why this year’s NAIDOC Week theme, Heal Country, is so important to Cedar and his community, the Peidu tribe of Erub and Meriam-Samsep tribe of Mer.
But the Logan stalwart wants to see recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people go beyond NAIDOC Week, and he has a few ideas on how to go about it.
“For my culture, Country is who we are,” he explains.
“It’s our connection to our land, it’s our spirituality, it’s who we are.
“It’s such a big part of who you are as a First Nation Australian.
“The best way to explain it is if you come in and hurt my Country, you’re hurting me.
“I love the NAIDOC Week theme, but I want the theme to go for longer than one week.
“It needs to be a theme forever until there’s no divide between people.
“We’re on the lands of giants who were working and doing things to put us in motion.
“We’ve got to continue that legacy and keep pushing further so we can get to a point where First Nations Australians and non-indigenous people are on the same page.”
Recognising First Nations players, staff and volunteers as part of NAIDOC Week in NBL1 is a huge start to getting these important conversations going.
Players and referees all around the country will be wearing specially designed Indigenous apparel while traditional Elders will perform Welcome to Country ceremonies at many courts across the nation.
Cedar can’t wait to see NAIDOC Week come alive at his club when he takes the court for Logan on Friday and Saturday this weekend.
“As a player, being recognised during NAIDOC Week is very touching,” the Thunder guard says.
“I’ve been a part of this state league system for about 18 years now.
“I’ve seen the growth of the leagues and how they’ve come along.
“It’s taken a while to get this sort of round but now that we have it, we need to keep building on it every single year.
“When associations see how much of an impact this weekend has, hopefully they can incorporate these things in their day-to-day lives as well.”
Healing Country is what day-to-day life already looks like for Cedar, who works as Basketball Queensland’s Indigenous Pathways Manager.
He says he is blessed to have such a rewarding career.
“I do a lot of stuff with a lot of the communities,” Cedar says.
“I work with a lot of young kids and upskill people on the game of basketball.
“We create opportunities for kids to pick up a ball and play basketball.
“When these kids pick up a basketball, there’s a huge smile on their face.
“There’s nothing you can do or say to describe just how that makes you feel.”
Now the kids he works with will have an Olympic flag bearer to look up to, with news that Indigenous Australian superstar Patty Mills will do the honours in Tokyo this year.
Cedar says he has led by example in creating a valid pathway for all First Nations people to play basketball at the highest level.
“There’s no-one that’s done what Patty’s been able to do,” the 35-year-old says.
“He’s the leader for the next generation of Indigenous guys coming through.
“There is a realistic pathway now where you can get to the highest level in the world.
“He’s been able to tell everyone that you can make it to this level.”
