NAIDOC Week Celebrated Across Australia

Right across the country, hundreds of National NAIDOC Week events are being held from July 3 to 10 to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee, or NAIDOC began in 1938 when protesters marched through Sydney on Australia Day. Organisers of the march called it the Day of Mourning.

Until 1955, similar marches were held annually on the Sunday before Australia Day.

That day became known as Aborigines’ Day, and eventually, the date shifted to the first Sunday of July and became a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

It also became a day of protest.

Every Sunday before Australia Day from then until 1955 similar marches were held The NAIDOC theme this year is ‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!’, celebrating the ways in which First Nations people have a proud history of getting up, standing up, and showing up.

Young Gudanji/Wakaja artist from the Northern Territory, Ryhia Dank won the prestigious National NAIDOC poster competition this year with her entry - Stronger.

“I created this piece after reading this year’s National NAIDOC Week theme - Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!,” Ms Dank said.

“I knew straight away I wanted to do a graphic piece centred around flags with text highlighting what we have been through and are still fighting for.

“I feel that this piece being black and white allows us to focus on the details and messages in the artwork.”

Find NAIDOC Week events near you at www.naidoc.org.au/local-events/local-naidoc-week-events.

• Topics:

• NAIDOC
• Community
• First Nations Peoples