NAIDOC Week 5 -12 July

NAIDOC - National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee - Week is a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and an opportunity to recognise the contributions of Indigenous Australians in various fields.

Above: The 2009 NAIDOC Week poster features artwork by Queenslander Luke Mallie, winning artist of the National NAIDOC Poster Competition. Luke's artwork, created from acrylic, water colour and ink on paper, is titled Carrying On Our Culture and was judged the winner from a record 140 entries.

"Carrying On Our Culture was painted to reflect the 2009 NAIDOC Theme Honouring Our Elders, Nurturing Our Youth. It represents the elders teaching and keeping watch over their young as they learn and grow into adults to then carry on the culture."

"The painting also depicts past elders who watch over everyone to protect and guide us through our lives. We all have the ability to connect to those spirits if we need guidance or inspiration."

Sydney City Council's banner at left is the work of artist Bronwyn Bancroft, a Djanbun (pronounced Jaan’bun) woman from the Bundjalung (Bun-jaa-lung) Nation of Northern NSW. She was born in a small country town in regional NSW, but lived most of her adult life in Sydney. She is a well known Aboriginal artist who has exhibited her work both nationally & internationally. Bronwyn Bancroft stated, “I am pleased that the design will be used throughout the city, as I would love to see more permanent visual Memorials to Aboriginal People…Past, Present and Future.”

Activities take place across the nation during NAIDOC Week in the first full week of July. All Australians are encouraged to participate.

The theme this year is Honouring our Elders, Nurturing our Youth.

NAIDOC Week grew out of a "Day of Mourning" held in 1938. The Day of Mourning was declared due to the lack of response from the Commonwealth government to a petition from Aboriginal people in 1935 and 1937 seeking representation in the Parliament and the establishment of a national department of native affairs and state advisory councils.