Ipswich community members turned out in large numbers for the city's NAIDOC Week celebration, with over 1000 people gathering at Tulmur Place in the Nicholas Street Precinct.
The event marked this year's NAIDOC Week theme, 50 Years of Deadly, recognising five decades of culture, strength, advocacy and community leadership.
The family-friendly event included food stalls, children's activities, games, vendors, employment stalls and welfare service stalls.
The day opened with a Welcome to Country and dances by The Nunukul Yuggera Dancers, who helped begin the celebration through culture, song and movement.
Yuggera man Aaron Ruska said the event brought community together.
"We've come here today for the NAIDOC festival in Ipswich," Mr Ruska said.
"Done some corroboree and opened up the festival today, so we've got all the boys and girls to do corroboree and we're helping out in some stalls as well."
Mr Ruska said NAIDOC held a strong place in community life.
"To me, NAIDOC is like Christmas in July - all the mobs coming together, and that's where you catch up with your family," he said.
"It's good to be out, see everyone coming together in the communities and not from just this community, but surrounding communities as well."
The event also gave young people a chance to take part in culture and continue practices carried by previous generations.
Mr Ruska said this year's theme reflected the importance of keeping culture strong.
"The way I try and continue that legacy for this year's theme, 50 Years of Deadly, is just by continuing that culture, that song and dance that's really important to our people," he said.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said NAIDOC Week was a significant time for the city to celebrate culture, connection and community.
"NAIDOC Week is a significant time for Ipswich to celebrate culture, connection and community," Ms Harding said.
"It reminds us of the importance of listening, learning and strengthening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples."
Mayor Harding said the week was also an opportunity to recognise progress and support future work through the proposed City of Ipswich Indigenous Accord 2026-2031.
"This year, NAIDOC Week highlights the theme, '50 Years of Deadly', as an opportunity to look back over the past five decades of progress," she said.
"We also have an eye to the future as we encourage the community to contribute to the Indigenous Accord over the next five years by having their say."
The council said the accord would guide cooperation, collaboration and partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Ipswich.
