NAIDOC Week is an annual event celebrating the culture, history and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The acronym, which has since become the name of the week itself, stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee and can be traced back to Aboriginal groups in the 1920s that sought to increase awareness and improve the treatment of Indigenous Australians.
Though usually held in the first week of July each year, due to COVID-19, NAIDOC Week 2020 has been postponed to 8-15 November.
Read on to learn more about the event and some of the ways you can celebrate in your community.
This Year’s Theme
The 2020 NAIDOC Week theme is “Always Was, Always Will Be,” and invites us to embrace the true history of Australia, one that dates back thousands of generations. The theme is in reference to a chant recited at many protests and gatherings, where the final line is “Aboriginal land.”
First Nations People have occupied and cared for our country for more than 65,000 years and were Australia’s first explorers, engineers, farmers, diplomats, scientists, astronomers, storytellers and artists. “Always Was, Always Will Be” recognises the eminent role that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people played in shaping this great continent to sustainably provide for the future.
How to Get Involved
During NAIDOC Week, people across the country are encouraged to participate in local community celebrations organised by government agencies, local councils, businesses and schools. To accommodate social distancing guidelines, the activities for 2020 will be a mix of in-person and virtual events, and there are many other ways to celebrate and raise awareness.
Here are a few suggestions for how you can get involved:
-
Attend a NAIDOC Week event in your local area (options include art competitions, virtual poetry readings, webinar presentations and video conferences)
-
Plan your own NAIDOC event for your friends, colleagues or community
-
Learn the meanings of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander place names and words, and visit local sites of significance
-
Download the 2020 National NAIDOC Poster, “Shape of Land,” and display it around your classroom or workplace
-
Watch a movie about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history or listen to Indigenous musicians
-
Use the 2020 National NAIDOC logo in your email signatures and social media profiles
-
Research Indigenous history online or visit your library to find books about First Nations Peoples
-
Share NAIDOC teaching resources with teachers, schools and students in your area
- Invite local Elders to speak at your school or workplace
How will you be celebrating NAIDOC Week this year? We’ve love to hear about your plans!
