
Images - NAIDOC 2020
NAIDOC Week is an occasion to celebrate the rich history and achievements of our Indigenous communities. It's a time for all Australians to participate and support our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Beginning as the
National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) responsible for organising national activities to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, its acronym has become the name of the week itself. To find out more about the origins and history of
NAIDOC Week,
SEE HERE.
The
National NAIDO Committee (NNC) make key decisions on the focus city, the theme, activities, the poster competition winner, the Award winners and so on, and this year have made the decision to run
NAIDOC Celebrations from
8-15 November 2020. Normally held in July, it was postponed in the interest of safety due to the pandemic.
SEE HERE FOR EVENTS in Victoria, Canberra, Western Australia, New South Wales and Online.
The Committee are also responsible for choosing the winner of the coveted
NAIDOC Poster Competition (see the image below) which incorporates this year's theme of
Always Was, Always Will Be. Won by Perth based artist and designer
Tyrown Waigana, find out more about
Shape of Land (the artwork) and the Artist by following the links within this paragraph. You can also download a copy of the Poster
HERE, and its
conditions of use. As part of a
Teaching Resource, you can download the poster in PDF format
HERE, for colouring in, along with other resources.
Wherever you live, you can take part in
NAIDOC Week celebrations. For
NAIDOC Week activities in your area, contact your nearest
Regional Office. Unfortunately, this year, due to the impacts of COVID-19 the
2020 National NAIDOC Awards was cancelled. However, plans are in place to hold the
2021 Ceremony in Mparntwe (Alice Springs)
the focus city for 2021.

Shape of Land by Noongar & Saibai Islander man Tyrown Waigana
Expanding on currently available events, they are as follows. With many being
online and
FREE, you can participate from anywhere in Australia. Follow the links for more details about the events. Check for further events as aforementioned, via the
Regional Office and your local organisations.
NAIDOC Week is also an opportune time to connect with Indigenous businesses to invigorate, build and maintain this sector through trade, buying from
Indigenous businesses and partnering with them. Typing
Aboriginal on
Instagram Search surprisingly also brings up quite a few businesses that you can support and buy goodies from.
Kungkas Can Cook and
Haus of Dizzy come to mind, as I personally buy from them but this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many organisations out there you can get to know.
VICTORIA
Healing is a large scale digital art installation created by Aboriginal artist Mandi Barton, a Yorta Yorta woman who lives in Melbourne's west. Mandi was commissioned by
Melton City Council to address health and wellbeing messages related to the COVID-19 crisis and explore the impact on Indigenous connections, narratives and identities. The exhibition, however, is at the
CS Gallery, 193-201 Caroline Springs Boulevard, Caroline Springs and will run till Sun 15 Nov 2020.
Healing Exhibition by Cassie Leatham is also hosted by Melton City Council and is an online exhibition running till Sun 15 Nov 2020. Find the visual tour
HERE. Cassie Leatham is from the Taungurung people from the Kulin Nation. She is an Indigenous artist, master weaver, traditional dancer, bushtukka woman and educator.
Mon 9 Nov from 10.30am to 12pm -
Poetry and Prose in Conversation - Join Aunty Rita Fisher and Aunty Anni Cockburn for a literary treat of poetry and prose as they come together in conversation, then join with them for a lively Q and A session.
REGISTER HERE for your free ticket, after which a Zoom link will be sent to you for this online event.
Tue 10 Nov from 11-11.45am -
Bush Foods for the Backyard - take a virtual tour through the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens to explore and learn about common bushfood plants that you can grow in your own backyard. This event will be streamed on the organiser's (Casey Cardinia Libraries)
Facebook page and
YouTube Channel. Tune in on the day to watch.
Thu 12 Nov from 5-6pm -
Meet Astronomer Karlie Noon - Karlie will be sharing her passion for all things outer space, as well as giving us some insight into how First Nations people interacted with the stars, its sure to be
OUT OF THIS WORLD!
REGISTER HERE for this free online event.
Fri 13 Nov from 11am to 12pm -
Storytime with Aunty Fay Muir - Come and listen as Boonwurrung and Wamba Wamba Elder, Aunty Fay shares stories with us around the theme of family and the important place that family holds in First Nations culture.
REGISTER HERE for your free ticket.
NEW SOUTH WALES
Wed 21 Oct 11am-Sat 21 Nov 4pm -
Ninuku Arts: Stories in Glass - Exhibition of new works in glass by the premier artists at Ninuku Arts. Exhibition dates are as given and will be held at the
Sabbia Gallery,
609 Elizabeth St, Redfern, Sydney.
Thu 12 Nov 10am-3pm -
Cultural Safety Training - A workshop for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal workers who want to improve the way they interact and work with Aboriginal communities. Unfortunately, this event has
SOLD OUT but the link highlights its availability for future events.
Fri 13 Nov 1.30-3.30pm -
NAIDOC Special with Jarron Andy - Jarron is the first Indigenous TV home shopping presenter in the country. As a proud Waanyi, Djiru, Kuku Yalanji and Yindinji man, he is proud to present The Australian first television NAIDOC event held on any mainstream TV Broadcasting Network celebrating Indigenous owned and operated businesses from around the country. Tune in to Channel 75 or Channel 7 Plus app or livestream on
Open Shop.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Sat 31 Oct 10am-Sun 15 Nov 5pm -
Stories of Country -
Linton & Kay Galleries present artworks by selected Indigenous artists from across Australia at
11 Old Aberdeen Place, West Perth. This is a free event.
Sun 8 Nov 7-8pm -
Djuki Mala at Newman Recreation Centre - Whaleback Arena -
COST OF ENTRY TBA - Held at the
Newman Recreation Centre, Cnr Gregory and Fortescue Ave, Newman, this fusion of traditional dance, pop-culture and storytelling is filled with a hefty dose of heart and soul.
Tue 10 Nov 9am to Thu 12 Nov 5pm -
Indigenous Desert Alliance Conference 2020 - A networking opportunity for Indigenous desert rangers with an interactive program of workshops and more. It's free for Desert Rangers and will be held at the University of WA - via videoconference.
Tue 10 Nov 9.30-10.30am -
Flag Raising Ceremony and Community Morning Tea - Self-explanatory, this is a free event held at the
City of Busselton Administration Building.
Bookings are essential as spaces are limited. Call Jacquie
9781 0335 to book.
Thu 12 Nov 7-8pm -
Djuki Mala at Red Earth Arts Precinct -
COST OF ENTRY TBA - As per event in Newman: see above. This event will be held at the
Red Earth Arts Precinct, 27 Welcome Rd, Karratha. Mon 9 Nov 11am to Sun 15 Nov 5pm -
NAIDOC Celebrations at City of Gosnells - Various events as per the image below (program), filled with film screening, art, dreaming stories and more. Click on the image for a larger, clearer view.
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Mon 9 Nov 9.30pm to Sun 29 Nov 9.30pm -
From an untouched landscape: James Tylor exhibition - James Tylor highlights the contemporary absence of Aboriginal culture within the Australian landscape and how this phenomenon is a direct result of the impact of European colonisation in From An Untouched Landscape. This free event is at
Canberra Contemporary Art Space, 44 Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes. Sun 15 Nov 3-5pm -
James Tylor artist talk at CCAS and Springbank Island - as per James Tylor event above -
$25 COST OF ENTRY - held at Canberra Contemporary Art Space. The artist talk at the CCAS is free,
however bookings are essential to later go on a
boat ride from Commonwealth Place to Springbank Island where Tylor will talk about his Contour 556 installation, The Dwelling. The boat will leave from commonwealth place at 3.40pm and return at 5pm.