21 Ways To Support, Celebrate And Educate Yourself During NAIDOC Week

This year's theme is "Get Up! Stand up! Show Up!" — so let's do exactly that!

In case you didn't know, it's NAIDOC Week, which is held every year to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and continue the momentum for systemic change in systems that oppress them.

Ryhia Dank

This year's theme — Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! — is driven by a need to move beyond "just acknowledgement, good intentions, empty words and promises, and hollow commitments."

naidoc.org.au

Instead, it's time to show genuine commitment to getting up, standing up and showing up, in order to support and secure constitutional change, call out racism, work towards treaties and amplify First Nations peoples.

Saeed Khan / AFP via Getty Images

Likewise, it's important to celebrate those who have driven and led change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities over generations.

As acknowledged by the organisers of NAIDOC Week, getting up, standing up and showing up can take many forms. So, inspired by this year's theme, here are just some of the things Australians can do to support and celebrate NAIDOC Week.

Dea / De Agostini via Getty Images

1. First up, if you're located in Sydney, there will be a number of events happening at The Rocks during the week, including the National Indigenous Art Fair; a badge making, boomerang and weaving workshop; and an empowering photo exhibition by Aunty Barbara McGrady, a leading First Nations' photographer.

The Rocks

If you're not into arts and crafts, don't worry! The National Indigenous Art Fair will also include live music and dance performances, panel discussions with First Nations spokespeople, cooking demonstrations and over 50 stall holders selling handmade jewellery, homeware and food.

There's also a weaving workshop taking place at the Campbelltown ArtHouse in South Australia.

2. Plus, Occupation: Native, a film that aims to engage all Aussies in a national conversation about Australian history, will be available through The Rocks website.

Brindle Films

3. But even if you're not in Sydney, there's plenty going on in other states. Check out the NAIDOC website to see what's happening in your local area.

Darrian Traynor / Getty Images

4. For example, there will be a Smoking Ceremony and traditional land care talk with Noongmar man Phil Walley-Stack in Claremont, Western Australia.

Greg Wood / AFP via Getty Images

A Smoking Ceremony is a traditional practice to welcome others to the lands of the ancestors and provide safe passage while on Country. 

5. Plus, there's an Aboriginal Art and Dreamtime workshop facilitated by Wardandi Bibbulmun woman Dale Tilbrook.

City Of Vincent

In this WA-based workshop, you will get to listen to Aboriginal Dreamtime stories and hear about Aboriginal culture and life, all the while painting river stones. 

6. In Melbourne, you can support some of Victoria's funniest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander comedians through attending the Kungari Comedy show.

Kungari Productions

The line-up includes Aunty Denise McGuinness, Kimmie Lovegrove, Ben Moodie and more.

7. For the nature-lovers in Sydney, there will be a special walk taking place in Dharawal National Park, which is the traditional land of the Dharawal or Tharawal Aboriginal People and protects several ancient Aboriginal sites.

Michael Xiao / Getty Images/iStockphoto

The tour will be guided by Aboriginal Discovery Rangers and will involve listening to their stories, learning about the bush and environment and feeling connected to both people and country.

8. If you're not able to physically attend events, there are plenty of virtual ones being hosted, which include talks with First Nations artists, joining Yarning Circles and learning about the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Bayside Gallery

This NAIDOC Yarning Circle will be hosted by Cara Haslop and will involve team members sharing insights from their recent cultural immersion experience in Kakadu National Park, as well as discussing the significance of this year's theme.

There's also a virtual event organised by Bayside Galley, which will involve a Q&A with proud Yorta Yorta and Woiwurrung woman Moorina Bonini. She'll be talking about her works and how her art style is informed by her lived experiences as an Aboriginal and Italian woman.

Or if you want to join an online workshop, there is one called "Aboriginal Warriors — Do You Know Of Them?", which will involve a guided talk about the history of Aboriginal Warriors and their role in meeting Westerners.

9. From Monday, July 4–Friday, July 8, you can tune into Big Mob Brekky, Australia's only all-Indigenous television breakfast program, on NITV.

SBS

Tanisha Stanton and Luke Carroll are your hosts this year and they'll be joined by a number of fantastic guests. You can look forward to big laughs, big news stories and big yarns. It'll be on NITV at 7:30am, but if you accidentally sleep in, you can catch up on SBS and SBS on Demand.

10. Also on NITV will be the premiere of Off Country, a documentary series which follows the lives of seven Indigenous students at Geelong Grammar School and gives insight into the experiences involved in being a First Nations child in Australia today.

SBS

Off Country will air weekly on NITV from Thursday, July 7 at 8pm.

11. Plus, don't miss the release of True Colours, a gripping four-part crime drama taking place in the heart of a First Nations community in the Northern Territory.

SBS

You can watch True Colours on SBS and NITV from Monday, July 4–Thursday, July 7 at 8:30pm. This ground-breaking series is in English and Arrernte and is SBS and NITV's first scripted co-commission.  

12. And keep the TV turned on because right after True Colours will be Living Black, hosted by Karla Grant.

SBS

Over three episodes, Karla will dive deeper intoTrue Colours, speaking to its creators and examining how Arrernte language, culture and community helped shape this unique series.

13. If you're wanting an IRL movie experience, head on over to the Laneway Cinema in Sydney. They'll be hosting a screening of The Final Quarter, a documentary focusing on AFL legend Adam Goodes on July 6.

Shark Island Productions

14. Over on SBS World Movies, you can watch a curated collection of acclaimed Australian movies telling First Nations stories.

Madman Entertainment, Imogen Thomas / Victor Evatt

The Last Wave, Jasper Jones, Emu Runner, The Dark Side and Mad Bastards will each air at 9:30pm, Monday, July 4 to Friday, July 8.

15. In tribute to this year’s theme — Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! — NITV is presenting the remastered film of Ningla A-Na, which records the events surrounding the establishment of the Tent Embassy on the lawns of Parliament House.

Smart Street Films

Ningla A-Na was made in 1972 and has been remastered for the 50th anniversary of the Tent Embassy. You can view it on NITV on Sunday July, 10 at 8:30pm.

16. Plus, there are so many fantastic Australian TV shows and movies that tell the stories of First Nations peoples. Watch and learn from them.

Luke Mallie / Netflix

Here and here are some powerful examples of Indigenous TV shows and movies to add to your to-watch list. Netflix has also partnered with artist Luke Mallie who created this unique artwork — "Rainbow Serpent Dreaming" — which Aussies and Kiwis can see when they visit the "First Nations Forever" page on the streaming platform. You can also find a bunch of First Nations docos, films and series on Netflix, including The Art Of Incarceration, Rabbit Proof Fence, Gurrumul and so much more.

17. For the foodies, SBS Food will be presenting NAIDOC themed episodes of The Cook Up With Adam Liaw from Monday–Friday at 7pm. Plus, there's Torres Strait At Home, helmed by Torres Strait Islander chef, Nornie Bero, that will be highlighting native ingredients.

SBS

18. If reading is more your speed, NAIDOC Week is the perfect time to read more about Blak voices, educate yourself about racism in Australia and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors.

Instagram: @bee_atlarge

Here is a list we've compiled to help get you started.

19. Audible is also expanding their First Nations content and will be releasing a number of titles on July 5 to celebrate NAIDOC Week.

Audible

These audiobooks include Another Day In The Colony by Chelsea Watego, Legacy by Larissa Behrendt, Ghost Bird by Lisa Fuller, Mullumbimby by Melissa Lucashenko and The Boundary by Nicole Watson.

20. Listen, follow, support and amplify First Nations peoples and creators.

Instagram: @coffinbirth

There are so many fantastic First Nations creators on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter — everywhere! Find who you vibe with (whether that's someone in fashion, an artist, or a journalist) and listen to their words. Sometimes the best thing to do is just that — let their teachings be the starting point for your journey into learning more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and what more needs to be done. On the flip side, don't expect your favourite content creators to be vocal during NAIDOC Week — teaching others can be mentally exhausting and traumatic for First Nations peoples, so the responsibility is on us to educate ourselves first and foremost.

21. And lastly, don't let your allyship and momentum for change stop when NAIDOC Week is over.

Steven Saphore / AFP via Getty Images

Keeping in line with this year's theme, going beyond acknowledgement and hollow commitments is important. Whenever you can, get up, stand up and show up in order to help make positive change for First Nations peoples. 

Here's the full list of NAIDOC Week events happening around Australia.

Plus, you can learn more about this year's theme and the origins of NAIDOC Week on the same website.