NAIDOC Week
National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week falls in November annually and is an opportunity for all Australians to come together to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait people.
The theme for 2020 “Always was, always will be” acknowledges the nation’s story at the dawn of time and didn’t begin with documented European contact. This theme is learning about the 65,000-year history of this Country and the first footprints on this continent belonging to the First Nations peoples, maintaining ongoing spiritual and cultural connections to the land and sea.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were the first Australian diplomats, astronomers, artists and farmers.
NAIDOC invites all Australians to embrace and acknowledge the true history of this country – a history which dates back thousands of generations. If you're looking for more information or activities, please consider these ideas:
- Discover Darebin’s long-standing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage and culture with the Darebin Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Recognition and Discovery Map.
- Get out in nature and walk the Darebin Spiritual Healing Trail in Darebin Parklands.
- You can also listen to DAAC Statement on Black Lives Matter read out at the start of the June 9 Council Meeting.
- Read Welcome to Country by Aunty Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy as a family. You can also read the stories of our history on the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation website.
- If you’re a Darebin Libraries member you can access thousands of movies and documentaries for free via Kanopy. The Darebin Libraries team have also put together a great list of relevant books and DVD’s that can be picked up through our Click and Collect system. For more information, please visit the Darebin Libraries website.
For more information about the national NAIDOC Week, visit the official NAIDOC website.
Darebin Schools NAIDOC Yarning Conference
The Darebin Schools NAIDOC Yarning Conference is a chance for primary school students to learn about Indigenous culture and history, directly from local Elders and Indigenous organisations.