Scholars & alumni learn about Indigenous Australians for NAIDOC Week

Posted: 9 August 2024

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Experience, First Nations, Scholar,

NAIDOC Week is held in July every year to celebrate the and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. Ahead of NAIDOC Week this year, Australia Awards scholars participated in a variety of activities across Australia to engage with Indigenous Australians.

Australia Awards – South Asia & Mongolia organised an online seminar for scholars and alumni to learn more about the significance of NAIDOC Week on 27 June.

Alice Tamang, a proud Dharug woman and the Australia Awards – South Asia & Mongolia’s Indigenous Engagement Advisor, shared her reflections on NAIDOC Week.

“NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for everyone to learn about our cultures and histories, and participate in celebrations that are held across the country. It is also a week of activism in Indigenous communities, where we are not only celebrating our achievements but advocating for our rights and raising awareness of injustices faced by our communities”

Alice outlined the history of NAIDOC Week, which dates back to 1938, when a day of mourning was proposed by the Aboriginal community in Sydney. In 1955 it was decided that the day should not only be for protest, but also a celebration of Aboriginal culture. In the 1970s, a national committee was established to oversee the celebrations, which became a week long event over time.

Each year the National Aboriginal and Islander Observance Committee (NAIDOC) sets the theme for NAIDOC Week. In 2024, the theme was Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud. Alice explained the theme was about “celebrating our resilience, unity and price. In the words of the NAIDOC Committee, the fire represents the enduring strength and vitality of Indigenous cultures passed down through generations, despite the challenges faced.”

During the seminar, some of the scholars who had participated in the immersive experience at Ikara-Flinders Ranges shared their experiences with other attendees, including the concept of Caring for Country and the ways in which storytelling was used to preserve traditional knowledge.

Scholars and alumni joined Alice Tamang, Australia Awards – South Asia & Mongolia’s Indigenous Engagement Advisor, for an online seminar on NAIDOC Week.

At the end of the event, Pakistani alumnus Mian Muhammad Shah said, “I would like to thank the scholars for sharing their experience of the trip.”