Celebrate the world’s oldest continuing cultures this NAIDOC Week
Sunday 2 to Sunday 9 July is NAIDOC Week (‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’ Week), when communities come together through events, activities and gatherings to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
With a theme of For our Elders, NAIDOC Week 2023 emphasises the role of Indigenous Elders as cultural knowledge-holders, trailblazers, nurturers, advocates, teachers, survivors, leaders, hard workers and loved ones.
At Deakin, we are:
… committed to Reconciliation and Treaty, advancing the educational aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and moving Indigenous Knowledges into the mainstream of Australian life. All our endeavours aim to reflect Australia’s full history and seek to build an inclusive future.
We pledge to use our position to call out racism, support reconciliation, and work to secure meaningful and sustainable cultural and social change.
This includes through our Indigenous student art competition – if you’re a First Nations student and artist, it’s not too late to submit an artwork that shares a story of your mob, Country or personal learning journey.
The significance of a Welcome to Country
During NAIDOC Week, we’re holding a Welcome to Country ceremony at each campus – we encourage you to attend if you can.
A Welcome to Country ceremony is performed by Traditional Custodians for people visiting their Country. These ceremonies can have varying formats, from speeches of welcome to traditional dance or smoking ceremonies, and can sometimes be accompanied by music.
This important tradition has been practised on this continent for many thousands of years. Crossing into someone else’s Country required permission to enter. When permission was granted, the hosts would welcome the visitors, offering them safe passage and protection of their spiritual being during the journey. Visitors had to respect the protocols and rules of the Traditional Custodians while on their Country.
You may have also heard of an Acknowledgement of Country. This can be performed by anyone and is a way of showing awareness of, and respect for, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which a formal lecture, presentation or event is being held.
How you can get involved
- Visit our NAIDOC Week events page for a full list of Deakin and community events.
- Educate yourself on the upcoming referendum on the Voice to Parliament, which is a shared, national responsibility. It is vital that everyone who is eligible to vote considers the weight and importance of the question fully, and informs themselves of the history and issues that sit behind the referendum.
- View our student glossary of Indigenous terms to ensure you’re being culturally appropriate and respectful.
- Visit the NAIDOC Week website for more information and resources.
*Banner image: ‘For Our Elders’, created by Bobbi Lockyer, a proud Ngarluma, Kariyarra, Nyulnyul and Yawuru artist, born and based on Kariyarra Country in Port Hedland. ‘For Our Elders’ won the prestigious 2023 National NAIDOC Week Poster Competition.
The 2023 National NAIDOC Week Poster incorporates the Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag (licensed by the Torres Strait Island Council).’