NAIDOC Week
The first week of July every year marks NAIDOC week and celebrations are held across Australia to celebrate and recognise the histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Commencing on Sunday 7 July, this year’s NAIDOC Week theme is Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud and proud. The theme honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Along with strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in Version 2.0 of the Approved Learning Frameworks, services may be inspired by NAIDOC Week to start the conversation about what embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait perspectives genuinely means to them.
Services may like to consider:
- understanding the ‘why’ behind NAIDOC week, sharing authentic stories of place that can enrich and support authentic approaches
- sharing stories of truth telling, as NAIDOC has a long and important history for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people since the 1920s.
- services may reflect upon how to tell stories through Non-Indigenous and Indigenous lenses to bring together shared understandings for our future
- how events such as NAIDOC Week and Reconciliation Week showcase daily pedagogy and practice in the service, rather than ‘the week’ being the showcase
- how embedded are Aboriginal and Torres Strait perspectives in the service. If they were taken out of the service practice tomorrow what would change, what would be impacted and how would children, families and community be disadvantaged because this practice stopped.
- acknowledging that engaging with community members and events, reflecting on relevant articles, websites and sharing stories and newsletters during NAIDOC week can be the start of an ongoing conversation rather than a week-long conversation.
Credit: ACECQA