NAIDOC Week facts for kids
Quick facts for kids NAIDOC Week |
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|---|---|
| Dates | First full week in July each year |
| Location(s) | Australia |
| Years active | 1975–present |
NAIDOC Week (NAY-dok) is a special time in Australia. It happens every year, starting on the first Sunday in July and lasting for a whole week. The word NAIDOC stands for National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee.
This important week celebrates the amazing history, rich culture, and many achievements of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It's a time for everyone to learn and celebrate. Not just Indigenous Australian communities, but also schools, workplaces, and government groups take part.
The idea for NAIDOC Week began a long time ago. It started with an event in 1938 called the Day of Mourning. By 1975, it had grown into a week-long celebration. People have asked for NAIDOC Week to become a national public holiday, but it is not one yet.
Contents
The Story of NAIDOC Week
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The Day of Mourning (1938)
The first idea for NAIDOC Week came from a letter written by William Cooper in 1937. He wrote it for the Australian Aborigines Progressive Association. This group brought together many important Indigenous leaders. They were getting ready for a big protest called the Day of Mourning in 1938.
This protest happened on Australia Day in 1938 in Sydney. About 100 Aboriginal people took part. They wanted to show how difficult life was for Aboriginal people after 150 years of British rule. They hoped this would make people understand and lead to fairness.
The protest made a big impact. It even led to Indigenous leaders being invited to meet with the Prime Minister, Joseph Lyons. William Cooper also asked churches to observe a special "Aborigines' Day" on January 3rd. By 1946, this day was being observed across the country.
NADOC Day of Remembrance (1957)
By 1957, the leaders of the movement decided to change the date. They moved the special day from January to July. A new group called the National Aborigines Day Observance Committee (NADOC) was formed. The first Sunday in July became a day to remember and celebrate Aboriginal people and their heritage.
NAIDOC Week Begins (1991)
In 1991, the NADOC committee changed its name to NAIDOC. The "I" was added to include Torres Strait Islander peoples. This showed that the week was for both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Also, the celebration grew from one day to a whole week of recognition. The committee's name, NAIDOC, then became the name of the week itself.
COVID-19 and NAIDOC Week
In 2020, NAIDOC Week had to be changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. It was moved from July to November. Some big events, like the national NAIDOC Awards, were cancelled in both 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. Events in some areas were also postponed or cancelled.
Fun Activities During NAIDOC Week
Many activities happen across Australia during NAIDOC Week. These include cultural and educational events in schools and workplaces. There are also public displays and celebrations.
During NAIDOC Week, you might:
- Listen to Indigenous Australian music.
- Read dream time stories.
- Visit Indigenous Australian websites to learn more.
- Join an art competition.
- Watch special TV shows about Indigenous culture.
TV channels like the ABC and SBS show special programs. These programs celebrate Indigenous events, actors, and stories.
Big celebrations also take place in Australia's main cities. They happen in larger Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities too. Some of these places include Alice Springs, Hermannsburg, Shepparton, and Mildura.
National NAIDOC Awards
At the end of NAIDOC Week, there is a special National NAIDOC Awards Ceremony and Ball. This event is held in a different city each year. It celebrates the achievements of Indigenous Australians. The Ball often features Indigenous food and live bands.
NAIDOC Poster Competition
The first NAIDOC poster was made in 1972 to promote "Aborigines Day." For many years, these posters had strong messages. They talked about political change and remembering history. Some early poster titles were "Self Determination" and "Chains or Chance."
NAIDOC Themes and Host Cities
Each year, NAIDOC Week has a special theme. This theme helps focus the celebrations and messages for that year. The main awards ceremony is also held in a different city each time.
- 2024: "Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud"
- 2023: "For Our Elders"
- 2022: "Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!"
- 2021: "Heal Country, heal our nation"
- 2020: "Always Was, Always Will Be"
- 2019: "Voice Treaty Truth" (Melbourne)
- 2018: "Because of her, we can!" (Sydney)
- 2017: "Our languages matter" (Cairns)
- 2016: "Songlines: The living narrative of our nation" (Darwin)
- 2015: "We all Stand on Sacred Ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate" (Adelaide)
- 2014: "Serving Country: Centenary & Beyond" (Gold Coast)
- 2013: "We value the vision: Yirrkala Bark Petitions 1963" (Perth)
- 2012: "Spirit of the Tent Embassy: 40 years on" (Hobart)
- 2011: "Change: the next step is ours" (Sydney)
- 2010: "Unsung Heroes – Closing the Gap by Leading Their Way" (Melbourne)
- 2009: "Honouring Our Elders, Nurturing Our Youth" (Brisbane)
- 2008: "Advance Australia Fair?" (Canberra)
- 2007: "50 Years: Looking Forward, Looking Blak" (Darwin)
- 2006: "Respect the Past-Believe in the Future" (Cairns)
- 2005: "Our Future Begins with Solidarity" (Adelaide)
- 2004: "Self-determination-Our Community—Our Future—Our Responsibility" (Perth)
- 2003: "Our Children Our Future" (Hobart)
- 2002: "Recognition, Rights and Reform" (Sydney)
- 2001: "Treaty—Let's Get it Right" (Melbourne)
- 2000: "Building Pride in Our Communities" (Townsville)
- 1999: "Respect" (Alice Springs)
- 1998: "Bringing Them Home" (Broome)
- 1997: "Gurindji, Mabo, Wik-Three Strikes for Justice-Celebrating the 1967 Referendum" (Brisbane)
- 1996: "Survive—Revive—Come Alive" (Adelaide)
- 1995: "Justice Not Tolerance" (Perth)
- 1994: "Families Are the Basis of Our Existence—Maintain the Link" (Melbourne)
- 1993: "Aboriginal Nations—Owners of the Land Since Time Began—Community is Unity" (Darwin)
- 1992: "Maintain the Dreaming—Our Culture is Our Heritage" (Canberra)
- 1991: "Community is Unity—Our Future Depends on Us" (Sydney)
- 1990: "New Decade——Don’t Destroy, Learn and Enjoy Our Cultural Heritage" (Tasmania)
- 1989: "The Party is Over—Let's Be Together as an Aboriginal Nation" (Darwin)
- 1988: "Recognise and Share the Survival of the Oldest Culture in the World" (Brisbane)
- 1987: "White Australia Has a Black History" (Perth)
- 1986: "Peace—Not For You—Not For Me But For All" (Adelaide)
- 1985: "Understanding: It Takes the Two of Us" (Melbourne)
- 1984: "Take a Journey of Discovery – To the Land My Mother" (Adelaide)
- 1983: "Let's Talk—We Have Something to Say"
- 1982: "Race For Life For a Race"
- 1981: "Sacred Sites Aboriginal Rights-Other Australians Have Their Rites"
- 1980: "Treat Us to a Treaty on Land Rights"
- 1979: "1979 International Year of the Child. What About Our Kids!"
- 1978: "Cultural Revival is Survival"
- 1977: "Chains or Change"
- 1976: "Trucanini Last of her People Born 18?? . Died 1876. Buried 1976. Received Her Land Rights at Last"
- 1975: "Justice for Urban Aboriginal Children"
- 1974: "Self-Determination"
- 1973: "It's Time For Mutual Understanding"
- 1972: "Advance Australia Where?"
Football Celebrations
In Western Australia, a special Australian rules football game is played during NAIDOC Week. This game is between Claremont and South Fremantle in the West Australian Football League. The winning team gets the Jimmy Melbourne Cup. This cup honours the first Indigenous Australian player to play senior football in a major Australian league.
See also
