Tamworth NAIDOC committee has postponed official week-long event celebrating Aboriginal culture due to COVID-19

Committee member Kaliela Thornton comfirmed to the Leader the decision was made earlier this week, but new dates have already been set.

The week-long national event was set to start in Tamworth on Monday, but will now run from November 7 to 14 this year.

"We've decided that during the school term would be good and hopefully we can get the schools involved ... so that's quite exciting," Ms Thornton said.

"We have got a lot more planning to do and we're hoping to make it a bit of a bigger event."

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NAIDOC Week happens every year, though it was also postponed last year amid the COVID pandemic.

The 2021 theme is 'Heal Country!', and has been described as the nation's chance to embrace First Nations' cultural knowledge and understanding of country.

Ms Thornton said the Tamworth committee's decision was in line with "a lot of other places" across the state grappling with COVID-19 restrictions.

Although major activities like the march and light show have been postponed to later this year, some events will still go ahead.

A photography exhibition at Ray Walsh House in Peel Street opens next week and captures Aboriginal people from the community who have made "outstanding" contributions.

Ms Thornton said the NAIDOC committee was also willing to help get the word out about any other activities happening in town for what would have been the special week.

A series of online workshops are being curated by a Tamworth artist to celebrate Aboriginal culture, and a colouring competition is also being run online via the Tamworth NAIDOC Facebook page.

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