We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the traditional custodians of the country this story is published on.
NAIDOC week is fast approaching – a time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and demand change in the systems that continue to oppress them.
This year, NAIDOC week celebrations will be held from Sunday July 3rd to Sunday July 10th. But it’s important that discussions don’t end there.
NAIDOC week celebrations will be held from July 3rd to July 10th.
(Image: Instagram | @coffinbirth)NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’. The purpose of the week is to herald the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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According to NAIDOC’s co-chair Shannon Dodson, “NAIDOC week actually started as a protest to Australia Day (Invasion Day). It started off as a day of mourning at first then turned into a day of celebration and then became a week”.
While last year’s theme was Heal country, this year’s theme is Get Up! Stand up! Show up! to help fight for active reform rather than empty words.
This year’s theme is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!
(Image: Getty)“We have a proud history of getting up, standing up, and showing up,” the official NAIDOC website reads.
“From the frontier wars and our earliest resistance fighters to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities fighting for change today—we continue to show up.
“Now is our time. We cannot afford to lose momentum for change.”
The statement explains that getting up, standing up and showing up for systemic change for mob, Elders, and communities can come in many different forms.
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“Whether it’s seeking proper environmental, cultural and heritage protections, Constitutional change, a comprehensive process of truth-telling, working towards treaties, or calling out racism—we must do it together.
“It must be a genuine commitment by all of us to Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! and support and secure institutional, structural, collaborative, and cooperative reforms.”
This year’s theme is also about celebrating the trailblazers who have “been the heroes and champions of change, of equal rights and even basic human rights”.
In a positive step, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has committed to the Uluru Statement From The Heart in full.
(Image: Instagram | @ulurustatement)“We need to move beyond just acknowledgement, good intentions, empty words and promises, and hollow commitments. Enough is enough.
“The relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non Indigenous Australians needs to be based on justice, equity, and the proper recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights.
“Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! with us to amplify our voices and narrow the gap between aspiration and reality, good intent and outcome.”
For more information about how to get involved this NAIDOC week and beyond, visit the official website here.
