NAIDOC Week 2021 is being celebrated from 4-11 July 2021 around Australia with ‘Heal Country – Heal our nation’ as this year’s theme. So how can you get involved? Read on for 21 tips to learn, connect and better understand our country 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 1920′s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
This year, NAIDOC Week will be celebrated differently to ensure the most vulnerable in the community such as Elders and those with pre-existing health conditions from COVID-19 can be protected.
But 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 21 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 ‘Heal Country!’ 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 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 (if restrictions permit), 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 art and crafts or get creative at home
- Try colouring in the NAIDOC Week poster
- Consider nominating someone for a National NAIDOC Award. While submissions for the National NAIDOC Awards are currently closed, you can begin preparing nominations for the 2022 awards for when they open later this year
- 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 #NAIDOC2021, #NAIDOCWeek and #HealCountry
It is recommended you use the COVID-19 Restriction Checker or check your state and territory information for the latest information on COVID-19 restrictions before you undertake any of the activities listed below which occur outside of your home or in a public or community space.
For the latest advice on COVID-19 in Australia, visit www.australia.gov.au
Find out more about NAIDOC: www.naidoc.org.au