First Nations communities will be recognised and celebrated throughout Round 16 of Coles Express NBL1 East this week, as Basketball NSW and the league proudly hosts its annual First Nations Round – coinciding with NAIDOC Week.
First Nations Round not only pays tribute to the rich cultural heritage and contributions of First Nations peoples, but also serves as a platform to foster awareness, understanding, and appreciation of their enduring and profound legacy within Australia.
NAIDOC Week expresses the same sentiment, where nation-wide celebration and recognition of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples takes place. It provides an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories, and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
The 2023 National NAIDOC Week theme is For Our Elders, which pays respects to the Elders we’ve lost and to those who continue fighting across all Nations. Read more here.
“Celebrating our First Nations athletes, coaches and officials is important to NBL1. Basketball has a rich history of First Nations participation, and this round gives us the opportunity to celebrate the history and culture of all First Nations people,” NBL1 General Manager, Dean Anglin, said.
With more than 85 First Nations athletes playing NBL1 across the country, and even more coaches, referees, technical officials and volunteers within the NBL1 community; the league will celebrate the rich cultural heritage that First Nations People bring to our game and society.
NBL1 East referees have suited up in a specially designed Indigenous jersey representing New South Wales this season, designed by the NBL’s First Persons and Multicultural Liaison, and proud Wiradjuri woman from Central NSW, Janelle McQueen.
First Nations Round will see many teams from NBL1 East don special jerseys designed by First Nations artists, that pays homage to First Nations People, on whose land the great game of basketball can be played.
See below a summary of the jerseys that will be worn over the weekend:
- ALBURY-WODONGA BANDITS
Artist: Bud Kennedy
The Bandits will wear a jersey design in which family is a strong theme, with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait flags featured on the back.
- CANBERRA GUNNERS & NATIONALS
Artist: Sarah Richards, Ngiyampa Woman
The Gunners and Nationals will sport a jersey adapted from Richards’ artwork Healing Together, representing the shared commitment to the ongoing journey of healing and reconciliation in the community.
The journey begins by laying some solid foundations, which are represented at the bottom of the piece by the earthy colours and signifies Ngunnawal country – the land on which ACT Basketball (signified by the six paths) comes together to play, and in turn igniting the healing journey.
The shared commitment to this ongoing journey of healing and reconciliation by the ACT basketball community is represented by the paths crossing and coming together (the two interlocking lines), which ultimately lead to a future state where all players and supporters come together and feel welcomed and included. This also extends to the wider ACT community (depicted by the blue and yellow ripples).
To learn more about Sarah Richards, click here; and to learn more about Healing Together, click here.
- CENTRAL COAST CRUSADERS
Artist: Jenni McEwen, Bundjalung Woman
The Crusaders will don a jersey in which the centre represents a basketball, and the symbols surrounding it represents the 12 team members (players). The jersey expresses the players coming together to compete on Darkinjung Country, whilst conveying an appreciation of the beauty of our traditional land.
- HILLS HORNETS
Artist: Tarni Eastwood, Ngiyampaa and Guringai Woman
The Hornets will be wearing a vibrant uniform that highlights the community of Hills Basketball, the Hornets venues and team members, as well as paying appreciation to the land.
The inner circle on the jerseys symbolises the community of Hills Basketball – the players, officials, families, sponsors and supporters coming together from different backgrounds.
As you move outward, the three dotted circles represent the three Hornets venues, immediately surrounded by the green ‘U’ shaped symbols signifying team members huddled together.
The green, white and red dot formation surrounding the huddle symbolises the creeks and trees of the local area. While the outer circle is left open to invite new members, while also encouraging Hornets members to explore higher representation but always have a path to home.
To learn more about Tarni Eastwood and her artworks, click here.
- HORNSBY KU-RING-GAI SPIDERS
Artist: Tylah Mundine, Bundjalung Woman
The Spiders will suit up in a uniform that acknowledges the important of sport in communities and as individual’s, and emphasises the importance of Indigenous representation – as First Nations athletes are incredibly talented and deserve to be held space for in competitions that they love and thrive in.
The arches at the bottom represent the foundational work of HKBA – including staff, parents, volunteers, sponsors and coaches. The work these individual’s do is invaluable in regards to the association’s success.
The dots between the arches signify players, all connected through basketball, some developing friendships and bonds that last beyond the court. They are also considered foundational in the elevation of the game at HKBA.
The circular designs symbolises HKBA teams flourishing, showcasing their pride. All of these circular designs are interconnected through values that are shared and practised throughout all sectors of HKBA.
- MAITLAND MUSTANGS
Artist: Jessica Love, Annawan Woman
The Mustangs will sport a jersey that encompasses country, program, community and home. All Mustangs taking to the courts with pride in this uniform are respectfully acknowledging the First Nations culture.
Within Country, the eagle represents the totem of Wonarrua lands. There is a waterhole symbol that illustrates the Hunter River, on which the Maitland stadium is based.
Five symbols are present throughout the painting; two are above the stream representing the women’s and men’s NBL1 teams, and three are below the river symbolising the Youth League teams. The placement signifies the progression through pathways from Youth League into the top-level NBL1 team.
The artwork on the jersey also depicts three community groups, which aca the core of support around the program at Maitland. The first group is that of the teams and player representatives, the second group is their families, friends and local supporters, and the third group is the staff and volunteers.
The side panel hosts the traveling path through the centre, illustrating the journey that an athlete embarks on as they join the Mustangs community. The long pathway is indicative of how an individual grows significantly in the program, and finds their community in the heart of the Mustangs. The path is lined with women on one side, and men on the other, as a display of the high level of participants now competing as Mustangs. It is a testament to the growth of the Mustangs’ stable since foundational years, and how the community has built a sporting association with a strong community culture that is an honour and privilege to be a part of.
- NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Artist: Kerri-Ann Taggart
The Falcons will put on their First Nations Round jersey this weekend, which incorporates a Falcon into the Newcastle City coastline, and tells a story that celebrates unity, community, and diversity.
- NORTHS BEARS
Artist: Jade and Kai Rose
The Bears will don jerseys adapted from the Rose’s artwork Connections, which depicts the connections between people, place and purpose. The outer circles represent the 4 teams within Norths, and the 5 shapes represent 5 players. The larger inner-circle reflects Norths Basketball Stadium, on Cammeraygal Country; a place where people come together to connect.
- SYDNEY COMETS
Artist: Taleena Simon
The Comets will wear a jersey where the middle depicts people holding hands, representing people in the community that provide a foundation of support for growth to occur. Also conveyed are the 10 suburbs surrounding Alexandria – which are Beaconsfield, Erskineville, Eveleigh, Mascot, Newtown, Redfern, Rosebery, St. Peter’s, Waterloo and Zetland. The colours of the Aboriginal flag are incorporated throughout the design, with black signifying Aboriginal People, yellow signifying the sun, and red representing the land.
During this time, all Australians are encouraged to educate themselves on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s history and culture.
You can purchase a pair of NBL1 Indigenous Design Socks, here.
All games will be streamed live and free on NBL1.com.au, the NBL1 Website and NBL1 App, while the Games of the Week will be on Kayo Freebies.