NAIDOC Week 2022: NAIDOC Week 2022

What is NAIDOC Week?

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

You can support and get to know your local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities through activities and events held across the country. 

What does NAIDOC stand for?

N - National

A - Aboriginal

and

I - Islander

D - Day

O - Observance

C - Committee

(information from NAIDOC Week website)

Inquiry Questions to Consider

All Ages:

• Why is this week special or important to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
• Why is this week special or important to non-Indigenous people?
• How might Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people feel during this week?
• How might non-Indigenous people feel during this week?
• How can this week be remembered and celebrated in our community?

ELC:

• Who are the Traditional Owners of the Country on which your school is located?
• Do you know the name of their language/s?
• Can you say any words in First Nations languages?
• Why is learning First Nations peoples’ languages important?
• What is an Acknowledgement of Country? Have you ever seen one performed?
• What Country do you live on? What are the names of the First Nations peoples who live there, and their languages?
• What things do you do that make you feel connected to Country? • Why is it time to listen to First Nations peoples about ways to care for Country? • How can all Australians be a part of change?

Years 3 to 5:

• How have past government policies affected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
• What does assimilation mean?
• What did the assimilation policy mean for First Nations peoples then and today?
• What other policies were introduced and why? How did they hurt Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
• What could people, organisations or governments have done differently in the past to protect First Nations peoples?
• What is ‘people power’?
• How can you help make a difference?
• Why is it important to stand up and speak out?
• What does it mean to Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!?
• Who do you know who has stood up for change? What have they achieved?
• What difference can you make in the fight for equality?

(information from NAIDOC Week Teacher Resource and Narragunnawali website)

NAIDOC Week Poster 2022

Each year, there is a competition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists aged 13 years and over to submit their artwork which reflects that year's National NAIDOC Week Theme. 

Ryhia Dank, a young Gudanji/Wakaja artist from the Northern Territory is the winner of the prestigious National NAIDOC poster competition for 2022 with her entry, Stronger.

Watch this video to learn more about the artwork.

Explore posters from other years here.