The 2024 National NAIDOC Week Poster artwork: Urapun Muy by Deb Belyea SAMUAWGADHALGAL, TORRES STRAIT

Held across the country from 7-14 July 2024, NAIDOC Week celebrates and recognises the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year’s theme is Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud. The theme honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – with fire a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Support and get to know your local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities through activities and events held in your area—here are just a few helpful links with literary and storytelling events and resources to help you find out what’s on:

• Head to MOD. for a First Nations AR Masterclass Celebration and Pop-Up Exhibit Launch on Monday 8th July. The event will celebrate the participants of their successful Augmented Reality Masterclass and feature exclusive viewing of the pop-up exhibit. Doors open at 5:30 pm. Enjoy complimentary drinks, explore BROKEN and the pop-up exhibition until 7:30 pm.
• Celebrate NAIDOC at AGSA with the soulful sounds of Katie Aspel in the courtyard. At 6.00 pm there will be a screening of award-winning film MARUNGKA TJALATJUNU (DIPPED IN BLAK) by Derik Lynch and Mathew Thorne, TAMBO by Travis Akbar and BLACK TIME, WHITE TIME by Tammy Coleman-Zweck along with a Q&A panel with host actor, screenwriter and producer Aaron Faáoso and local South Australian filmmakers.
• Celebrate under the Gawler Place Canopy in Rundle Mall from 10am on Tuesday 9 July with an official Kaurna Welcome to Country Ceremony and Smoking Ceremony, followed by the unveiling of this year’s artwork by two incredible Aboriginal artists, Mali Isabel and Drew Kilner. Following this, enjoy an exciting and immersive schedule of live entertainment and activities 10am to 1:30pm:
  • Meet and hold Australian animals with Animals Anonymous
  • Enjoy live music from Rob Edwards
  • Hear from Life Without Barriers
  • Have your face painted for free
  • Taste native food from Australian Wattlebush Catering
  • Puzzle the Aboriginal language snake
  • Read the Cultural Collection with the City Library
• Come along to Storytime at the South Australian Museum, with live readings of popular children’s books written and illustrated by prominent Aboriginal and Torres Strait artists and writers.
• in Mount Barker, the NAIDOC Art & Storytelling Workshop is an interactive art and storytelling workshop lead by Kyle Sampson-Booth.
• The Kaurna Voices Exhibition features a visual snapshot of the Kaurna Voices Cultural Mapping project, capturing Kaurna Cultural heritage through storytelling and research. The exhibition provides a link to the City of Adelaide website, which features an interactive map of the city showing sites of cultural and social significance supported by historical text, archived images, and oral history and video recordings featuring Kaurna Elders and Community leaders.
• Check out UQP’s First Nations Classics series. The collections amplify Blak voices in the literary canon, showcasing incredible Indigenous authors who have shaped Australia’s literary landscape for generations, with new introductions from contemporary authors.
• Discover First Nations poets in the Red Room Poetry archive.

Check out books from some of the South Australian First Nations Writers Group writers, Ali Cobby Eckermann, Natalie Harkin, Karen Wyld, and Jared Thomas here:

Find more events at the NAIDOC Week website.