Bring the spirit of NAIDOC celebrations into your everyday lives - that was the message from a Wiradjuri leader as the week came to a close.
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Events that ran online in 2020 made a welcome physical return between July 4 and 11 - although NSW restrictions saw the Border committee's major opening event postponed to October.
But sporting codes across the region held ceremonies and recognised this year's theme, Heal Country, with jerseys.
Darren Wighton conducted smoking ceremonies and a Welcome to Country for the Albury Tigers and Steamers games on Saturday.
"A Wiradjuri smoking ceremony is a number of things - it's a way in which we connect to Country," he said.
"If I've been away, I'll come home and do a smoking ceremony as a type of cleansing.
"It can also be medicinal - inhaling as much as the eucalyptus as we can - and it's a spiritual connection.
"It's great that the broader community are aware (of NAIDOC), and the themes are just awesome - they go really well with children and with education.
"We've got the local footy clubs that have Indigenous connections, either through their players or through community, organise jerseys and smoking ceremonies.
"Embracing the history of this land, embracing Indigenous people and culture is only going to enhance your 'Aussie-ness'."
Mr Wighton, who is an engagement worker at Xavier High and a cultural mentor for the Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service, urged sporting clubs and community groups to think more about NAIDOC and year-round respect.
"Some do really well in organising and others sort of leave it to the last minute," he said.
"With NAIDOC, often it's trying to jam in so much and I feel relieved when it's over.
"NAIDOC is great ... but (teaching) staff appreciate the work we do throughout the year.
"The main desire would be to not be a last minute or an afterthought, but to be giving plenty of notice.
"If you've got local people knowing local Elders, and they're involved in NAIDOC, learning and flag-raisings, it becomes broader engagement rather than a 'tick-the-box'."
Multiple facets were organised for the Steamers' events - a hangi, which is a traditional Maori method of cooking, had to be cancelled due to COVID rules.
"One of the one of the women players brought it together," he said.
"There's Samoan, Tongan and Fijian - we thought we could cover all bases."
A bagpipe was even played alongside the didgeridoo, as players ran out onto the field.
Mr Wighton sang a welcome song "about caring, sharing and coming together for the purpose of respecting and honoring one another and the land".
"I know that people love Australia, and we've been loving it for thousands of years, but in recent times, there's issues around deforestation, plastic bags and masks - rubbish getting into our waterways," he said.
"There's so many environmental issues that I don't think Australia or our government are really serious about.
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"We can take a leaf out of the Indigenous book and care for land in a way that helps everyone
"There's a lot of area for change and for growth.
"We want to focus on the good stuff that brings people together and weed out all that negative stuff, because to be dealing with things like racism and injustice in 2021, is just crazy.
"It only exists because people let it."
