NAIDOC Week 2021- Heal Country!

NAIDOC week artwork

Happy NAIDOC Week!

NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This NAIDOC Week goes from the 4th – 11th July 2021.Heal Country! 4-11 July 2021

The theme this year is Heal Country! Country is more than a place. Country is family, kin, law, lore, ceremony, traditions, and language. Healing Country means embracing First Nation’s cultural knowledge and understanding of Country as part of Australia's national heritage.

"Healing Country is more than changing a word in our national anthem – it is about the historical, political, and administrative landscapes adapting to successfully empower and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, nations, and heritage".

This years NAIDOC Poster titled Care for Country was created by Maggie-Jean Douglas - a Gubbi Gubbi artist from South East Queensland. (read more about Maggie-Jean here).

w20 tips how to celebrate NAIDOC week

20 ways to celebrate NAIDOC Week this year

  1. Virtually attend one of the many of the online events available in the NAIDOC Week Official Calendar
  2. Download and display this year’s NAIDOC Week poster or look through the previous poster gallery.
  3. Call someone in your community to have a chat about this year’s theme ‘Heal Country!’ and what it means to you
  4. Watch special NAIDOC Week programming on SBS/NITV and ABC
  5. Learn more about the Country on which you live and work using the AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia
  6. Find a book to read, written and published by Indigenous authors and illustrators through Magabala Books or suggest one for your next book club
  7. Check out some music and podcasts from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creators on Indigitube.
  8. Take a look at how you can support Indigenous businesses through the Supply Nation Indigenous Business Direct.
  9. Learn more about how deliver an Acknowledgement of Country
  10. Find out more about the history of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags and how you can fly them.
  11. Get creative in the kitchen using Australian bushfood and native ingredients such as kangaroo, macadamia or lemon myrtle.
  12. Use this year’s theme to connect to Country by going for a walk (if restrictions permit), exercising outside, visiting a local park or gardening.
  13. Research Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history or start some family history research.
  14. Host an online quiz and test the knowledge of your friends and family on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures or histories.
  15. Be inspired by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and crafts or get creative at home.
  16. Try colouring in the NAIDOC Week poster.
  17. Consider nominating someone for a National NAIDOC Award. While submissions for the National NAIDOC Awards are currently closed, you can begin preparing nominations for the 2022 awards for when they open later this year.
  18. Visit the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander exhibitions of museums and galleries in-person or online.
  19. Plan your Australian travel bucket list including Indigenous sites of significance or interest.
  20. Join the conversation online using the NAIDOC Week hashtags #NAIDOC2021, #NAIDOCWeek and #HealCountry