It’s almost National NAIDOC Week, and to make the most of the festivities, you have to know what the celebrations are all about. With this in mind, the team at Explore Careers has put together a guide to help you fully embrace NAIDOC Week!
Understanding NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC Week works to amplify the voices of Indigenous peoples, share cultural histories, and raise awareness of the treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Essentially, NAIDOC Week is working towards a better and more equal future for all Aussies.
What Does NAIDOC Stand For?
NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee; an organisation whose origins can be traced all the way back to the 1920’s!
Unpacking this Year’s Theme: Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud.
According to the official NAIDOC website, this year’s theme is all about celebrating the spirit of Indigenous communities and encouraging all Australians to continue standing in solidarity with, and amplifying the voices of, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The ‘fire’ in question refers to an unapologetic celebration of Indigenous identity and an unrelenting passion for sharing Indigenous culture. Moreover, keeping the fire burning means reclaiming narratives, standing tall in heritage, and celebrating the oldest living culture in the world!
If you want to learn even more about this year’s theme from the experts themselves, head over to the official NAIDOC website; they even have a super informative video ready to go!
Learn About This Year’s Poster
Poster Title: Urapun Muy
Artist: Deb Belyea
The name ‘Urapun Muy’ translates to ‘One Fire,’ linking this year’s visual’s back to the theme of Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud.
In the words of the artist:
“In this work, I have depicted the hands of our ancestors that have carefully dropped a burning ember on to a fire. This ember burns hot with intensity, stoking the flames, as it combines with the new fire. The linear detail shows the energy and power as cultural knowledge is transferred from our ancestors to us today. Culture is the fire that gives us knowledge, wisdom and purpose.”
What to Look Forward to
This week’s mission is to celebrate Indigenous culture, so you can expect a tonne of exciting events to kick off the festivities! Some of the key elements you can look forward to are:
The National NAIDOC Week Awards Ceremony
The annual NAIDOC Week Awards Ceremony is an unmissable event during which the outstanding achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are recognised.
There are a tonne of inspiring categories, including
- National NAIDOC Person Award
- National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement
- National NAIDOC Female Elder Award
- National NAIDOC Male Elder
- National NAIDOC Sportsperson
- National NAIDOC Youth Award
- National NAIDOC Creative Talent Award
- National NAIDOC Caring for Country and Culture Award
- National NAIDOC Education Award
- National NAIDOC Innovation Award
What’s more, after each winner is announced, the audience will hear all about their inspiring journey, stories, and how they came to be such an outstanding community figure!
If you want to read about existing winners, learn more about the selection process, or check out some awesome pictures from past ceremonies, head over to NAIDOC’s Awards Ceremony page.
Discover Local NAIDOC Week Events
Regardless of where you are in Australia, there’s bound to be some exciting NAIDOC Week events happening near you! To explore your options for this week, head over to the official Local Events page, pop in your postcode, and you’ll be good to go!
If you’re not sure where to start, some of the celebrations we’re most excited about are:
- NAIDOC Exhibitions
- Family and Cultural Celebrations
- Sand Art Events
- Film Screenings
- Art Exhibitions
- Galas and Balls
Start Planning Your NAIDOC Itinerary Today!
With all the resources you need to make this NAIDOC Week your best yet, it’s time to get planning!
If you want to keep exploring Indigenous initiatives, you can also head over to our Diversity and Inclusion blogs. You won’t just find job-related info for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders; there’s also a bunch of resources on other Indigenous events!
