From what started as a day of mourning, NAIDOC week has now become a day of celebration.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia have come together this week to recall Aboriginal achievements, and to highlight indigenous culture and community.
The week has ended with marches and other events across the country by .
Thisanka Siripala and Ildi Amon compiled this report, at one closing event in Melbourne.
This year's theme for NAIDOC Week in Victoria was proud moments in history.
Organisers say the idea was to pay homage to past elders who had helped create change, to improve the lives of today's Indigenous people.
Aunty Pam Pederson participated in the march that began at the Aboriginal Health Services in Fitzroy, and ended in central Melbourne.
She says it NAIDOC is a time to celebrate Indigenous achievment.
"I have been coming to the march for many many years. My father pastor Sir Douglas Nicholls and Lady Nicholls were one of the people who helped start NAIDOC, it's very special to me because I think about the elders in the past who have done a lot of work for our community"
Leigh Saunders was MC of the closing event.
He also paid tribute to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders of the past.
"Many years ago, I suppose, this has been set up - our marches, and you know, that political movement that we've had as a people to really get our voice out there across this country, Australia, and really just to let people know that we are here, and we have survived and we are survivors."
Maurial Spearim, named as Victoria's Miss NAIDOC this year, says she's hoping young Indigenous Australians will take inspiration from the number of people who joined NAIDOC celebrations.
"On an individual level I hope that they are able to stand strong, stand tall within themselves, to be proud of themselves as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and I hope that with that strength, they are able to overcome any obstacles that come their way through their lifespan with great tenacity, to break down the negative stereotypes of our people."
Indigenous dance provided entertainment for the closing event in Melbourne.
Wurundjeri woman Jemima Gardiner says song and dance is the best way to hand down cultural heritage to younger generations.
"When it comes to the various performances that the boys actually do participate in as a group, the performers do actually vary from time to time as one of the ways of being able to support not only the younger men in the community as they're getting older as a way of employment but also to pass on their cultural heritage through song and dance and also to unite through community with other different language groups as such."
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