NAIDOC Week 2024 is being celebrated from 7-14 July around Australia. So, how can you get involved? Read on for 18 tips to learn, connect and better understand our First Nations culture this week and beyond.
NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920s, which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
While reconciliation week focuses on relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, NAIDOC week is purely a celebration of First Nations culture and achievements.
This year’s theme is ‘Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud’, which celebrates the unyielding spirit of Indigenous communities and invites all to stand in solidarity, amplifying the voices that have long been silenced.
Through our collective efforts, we can forge a future where the stories, traditions, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are cherished and celebrated, enriching the fabric of the nation with the oldest living culture in the world.
Regardless, no matter whether you celebrate at home or in the community, there are lots of ways you can honour the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples this NAIDOC Week.
How can you better improve your knowledge of Indigenous Australia?
Here’s a list of 18 ideas to get you started – Pass it on
- Plan your Australian travel bucket list, including Indigenous sites of significance or interest – Head to Tourism Australia for a huge range of transformative Aboriginal experiences across our great land
- Watch special NAIDOC Week programming on SBS/NITV and ABC
- Virtually attend one of the many of the online events available in the NAIDOC Week Official Calendar
- Download and display this year’s NAIDOC Week poster, or look through the previous poster gallery.
- Call someone in your community to have a chat about this year’s theme and what it means to you
- Learn more about the Country on which you live and work using the AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia
- Find a book to read, written and published by Indigenous authors and illustrators through Magabala Books or suggest one for your next book club
- Check out some music and podcasts from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creators on Indigitube
- Take a look at how you can support Indigenous businesses through the Supply Nation Indigenous Business Direct
- Learn more about how to deliver an Acknowledgement of Country
- Find out more about the history of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags and how you can fly them
- Get creative in the kitchen using Australian bushfood and native ingredients such as kangaroo, macadamia or lemon myrtle
- Use this year’s theme to connect to Country by going for a walk, exercising outside, visiting a local park or gardening
- Research Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history or start some family history research.
- Host an online quiz and test the knowledge of your friends and family on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures or histories
- Be inspired by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and crafts or get creative at home
- Visit the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander exhibitions of museums and galleries in-person or online
- Join the conversation online using the NAIDOC Week hashtags #NAIDOC2024, #BlakLoudProud
Find out more about NAIDOC: www.naidoc.org.au
