Celebrating NAIDOC Week

Occurring in the first week of July, NAIDOC Week is an annual celebration of the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and an opportunity for all Australians to come together and learn about First Nations cultures and histories.

This year NAIDOC Week was held from 7-14 July and the theme was ‘Keep the Fire Burning!  Blak, Loud and Proud’.  The theme honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture, connection to Country and community, and an unapologetic celebration of First Nations identity.

As an Ally on Voice, Treaty, and Truth, Anglicare WA celebrated NAIDOC Week across the state with a number of local events and reflected on this year’s theme.  Leone Cottam-Williams, a proud Wonnarua woman and Anglicare WA Director, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Engagement, shared with us what NAIDOC Week means to her and why it is important.

NAIDOC Week is a week of celebration! Its early beginnings come from fighting for justice and this continues in multiple ways, but from the protest beginnings NAIDOC has become a celebration! A celebration of Culture, of art, of dance, of storytelling, of strength and of multiple distinct, diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

For many of us, this is the week that we can be most proud, most ourselves. It is a week we honour our rich histories and cultures in positive, colourful, joyous ways. It is a week we leave the deficit discourse behind and focus on celebration. It is a week for us to shine and share the strength and beauty of generations of connection.

NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for learning, connecting and for building community. We encourage everyone to join their local events, learn the histories of the place you live, work and love. And celebrate! Celebrate with People and Country, the oldest continuing Culture on this planet. 

Keep that fire burning! Blak, loud and proud!