National NAIDOC Week 2022

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are being held across Australia from the 3rd to the 10th July to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

NAIDOC stands for “National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee”. It all began on Australia Day in 1938, when protesters marched through Sydney, which organisers called the Day of Mourning. Similar protests were held on the Sunday before Australia day up until 1955. The day became known as Aborigines’ Day. Eventually the date shifted to the first Sunday of July and the day became a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture as well as a day of protest.

This year’s NAIDOC theme is “Get up! Stand Up! Show Up!”. The theme celebrates the ways in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have a proud history of getting up, standing up, and showing up.

Ryhia Dank, a young Gudanji/Wakaja artist from the Northern Territory is the winner of the prestigious National NAIDOC poster competition for 2022 with her entry, Stronger.

Ms Dank explained “I created this piece after reading this year’s National NAIDOC Week theme – Get up! Stand Up! Show Up! I knew straight away I wanted to do a graphic piece centred around our 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,” she said.

There are three NAIDOC events being held in nearby Canberra for you and your children to participate in:

Storytime Online: Welcome to Our Country
Date: Monday, July 4, 2022 - 10:30am to 11:15am
About: Reading of “Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country” written by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing.
More information: STORY TIME ONLINE! Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country | NAIDOC

Storytime Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country
Date: Wednesday,6th July - 10:30am to3pm, National Portrait Gallery, Canberra
About: Come and celebrate NAIDOC week with a reading of “Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country” written by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing, followed by some colourful and playful activities. Cost is $7 per child.
For bookings: STORY TIME Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country | NAIDOC

Traditional Weaving Workshop Walk-up
Date: Saturday, July 9, 2022 – 11am to 2pm, National Portrait Gallery, Canberra About: Celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples this NAIDOC week and join Ronnie Jordan, a Kalkadoon Pitta Pitta woman, who will share her traditional ecological knowledge. These workshops are a hands-on experience, empowering participants with a sense of connection and the opportunity to experience and heal through traditional culture. Ronnie is a qualified professional weaver and artist and has delivered weaving and art workshops to government agencies, community groups and schools. All materials provided, including raffia and natural fibres. Suitable for ages 12+ years. Free. Bookings: TRADITIONAL WEAVING WORKSHOP WALK-UP | NAIDOC

• Topics:

• NAIDOC
• First Nations Peoples
• Workshop / Short Courses