INSPIRATIONAL IREMAGUDU: CREATIVITY, CULTURE AND COUNTRY CELEBRATED FOR NAIDOC
Cora-Larni founder Melanie O’Donoghue and Josie Samson at the cutting of the 50th Deadly celebrations for NAIDOC Week in Roebourne.
From the Waramalgu Markets showcasing emerging Ieramugadu creative talents and promising indigenous entrepreneurs, to Elders reflecting on ancient skills and trades in artefacts and young ones raising the flag - NAIDOC Week 2026 was pretty Deadly.
Such a busy week that here at Ngaarda Media, we’re just finally catching up to share all the festivities with you, our valued audience - and hope you pass it forward and share some of the photos, stories and interviews we gathered with your loved ones.
Ngaarda Media’s own Breakfast Presenter, Lynnese O’Donoghue, gave the opening speech at Roebourne’s Deadly NAIDOC Week flag-raising ceremony, welcoming Byron Barunga Junior, Cora Barunga and Ava Bonney to raise the flags for community and country.
After Ngarluma Country was Acknowledged, Ngaarda Media spoke to many locals who reflected on the value of the past, the inspiration of the present and the promise of the future.
Today, we present a few highlights from the day in Roebourne - keep reading for links to all the photos and our special on NAIDOC WEEK around the region on FIRST NATIONS REPORT on NGAARDA TV (link below).
Some of the crowd seemed genuinely surprised to be there at Roebourne’s official NAIDOC Week celebrations.
We’ll continue to share stories from NAIDOC Week around the region in coming days.
Ngambarli Woman and CEO of Wada Mungan Wellbeing and Consulting, Shanine Ryan, was one of almost 20 stallholders at the Waramalgu Markets for the big day of the week in Roebourne.
On hand to help her was Melanie’s cousin Kylie Mowarin showcasing her J' Unique Jummi bush medicine products, Shanine said a number of the women stallholders were part of the Healing Hub and Women’s Collective, bringing strong women together to health and just “be part of the amazing collective society that we once were”.
Women, men and children got into the bead-making and other activities at the Waramalgu Markets at Roebourne’ NAIDOC Week celebrations.
It could be argued that the amazing collective society is as strong as ever.
Shanine said the 2026 theme of 50 Years of Deadly just pointed to the fact that in indigenous history, 50 was “such a very small number in the big scheme of things”.
“Our people have been doing this type of activity of coming together and celebrating our unique abilities and all the wonderful things that make us community for far longer than that,” she said.
“But to recognize 50 years of Deadly for NAIDOC in particular, I think it's so fitting to be out here in Iermugadu, Roebourne, which is Ngarluma ngurra, country, home to (so) many groups from all around the region.”
Among the others presenting their talents at the market were Bardi Jawi Yawuru artist Sherena Bin Hitam, Thaama, Warriahs of the Ngurra, Crafty Kitchen and Little Country Kids as well as a host of local and regional service providers.
Waramalgu Markets coordinator and co-founder of Cora-Lani Enterprises, Melanie O’Donoghue, said the name of the markets meant maker, or creator, and it was jsut the second year running the event at NAIDOC Week.
She said as a creator herself, it was a way for people at home to come out and showcase their hobbies or side-hustles like painting, jewellery-making and bush foods cooking, to a wider audience.
“I wanted to be able to provide them a space to come and share what they do in community,” Melanie said.
But she it was also an opportunity to teach the younger ones about entrepreneurship, with a Tiny Traders Corner set up for the children to sell their wares.
“(To show them) with a bit of hard work, you know if you've got a goal and you've got a dream, with a lot of work you can achieve anything.”
WATCH THE FULL REPORT ON FIRST NATIONS REPORT ON NGAARDA TV:
