National NAIDOC Week 2024

On 26 January 1938, while many Australians celebrated the 150th anniversary of the landing of the First Fleet, a group of over 1000 Aboriginal people gathered at Australia Hall in Sydney to call for full citizenship status’ and laws to improve the lives of First Nations people.

As one of the first major civil rights gatherings in the world, this day became known as the Day of Mourning.

Since then, National NAIDOC Week has grown to become both a commemoration of the first Day of Mourning as well as a celebration of the history, culture and excellence of First Nations people.

National NAIDOC Week is observed annually from the first Sunday in July until the following Sunday.

Display the National NAIDOC Week Poster in your workplace or classroom and get your hands on some National NAIDOC Week merchandise. To get your poster and merch visit the NAIDOC website.

Follow, share and comment on NAIDOC social media.

Nominate a deadly First Nations person, group or organisation you know for a National NAIDOC Week Award.

Find out whose Country you are on at AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia.

Engage with local Traditional Owners and your local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Community.

Read a book by a First Nations author.

Watch a television show or movie made by a First Nations filmmaker.

Host your own NAIDOC Week Event.

Attend an NAIDOC Week Event.

Listen to podcasts or music by First Nations artists and creatives.

Add a National NAIDOC Week banner to your email, use a NAIDOC Teams background or download social media tiles/frames to use on Instagram or Facebook at NAIDOC Downloads.

Follow First Nations social media accounts and share their content.

Make a purchase from a Blak business – make sure profits go to First Nations makers.

Subscribe to the NAIDOC Newsletter to stay up to date with all things National NAIDOC Week.

From 1940 until 1955, the Day of Mourning was held annually on the Sunday before Australia Day and was known as ‘Aborigines Day’.

In 1955 ‘Aborigines Day’ was shifted to the first Sunday in July when it was decided that the day should also become a celebration of Aboriginal culture as well as a day of protest.

Major Aboriginal organisations, as well as state and federal governments, all supported the formation of the National Aborigines Day Observance Committee (NADOC).

In 1974, for the first time, the NADOC committee was composed entirely of Aboriginal representatives. The following year, it was decided that NADOC be expanded to become a week of celebrations, from the first to the second Sunday in July.

In 1984, NADOC asked that National Aborigines Day be made a national public holiday to help celebrate and recognise the rich cultural history that makes Australia unique. While this has not happened (yet!), other groups have echoed the Committee’s call.

As awareness of the distinct cultural histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples grew, NADOC was expanded to recognise Torres Strait Islander people and culture. The committee then became known as the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC).

The National NAIDOC Committee makes key decisions regarding national celebrations each year as stewards of National NAIDOC Week events on behalf of all First Nations people.

Find out more

To find out more about the Day of Mourning visit the AIATSIS website.

To find out more about the National NAIDOC Committee visit the NAIDOC website.

Cultural Appreciation means appreciating another culture in a respectful, sincere way that helps broaden perspectives and build cross-cultural connections.

Respecting culture means that you don’t borrow what you don’t understand. It also means that you take your lead from the right people for the right reasons – not for personal gain, not for Instagram.

There is a fine line between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation.

Appreciation means you look to others to lead the conversation.

Appropriation is when you centre yourself in the conversation and put yourself in a position of authority.

Cultural appropriation is using elements of a culture which you do not belong to. Appropriation is disrespectful, exploitative, hurtful and reinforces racism.

Resources:

• Blak Business
• Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
• Fake Art Harms Culture
• Clothing the Gaps
• Common Ground