The NAIDOC theme for 2022 is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! In 2022, NAIDOC week will take place from July 3rd – 10th.
Our community is one that, time after time, has continued to fight and rally for our rights and to see real systemic change.
The 2022 theme reminds us that we must continue to stand together as a community and remain united in our fight to protect our community, our rights and our traditional lands.
‘We need to move beyond just acknowledgement, good intentions, empty words and promises, and hollow commitments... The relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non‑Indigenous Australians needs to be based on justice, equity, and the proper recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights.’ – NAIDOC Website
The 2022 National NAIDOC Poster incorporating the Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag (licensed by the Torres Strait Island Council).
Mob have been fighting for rights and freedoms since invasion.
The Frontier Wars began with the invasion and colonisation of this country and our mob fought hard against colonists to ensure our communities and our culture survived. While it is officially said the Wars ended as late as 1934 many acts of violence and oppression against our community continue today, as does our resilience.
Our community has presented many petitions and statements with the aim of improving our communities lives and securing land rights among many other things. Instances include the Yirrkala Bark Petitions, the first traditional documents to have been recognised by the Commonwealth Parliament, and the Barunga Statement, which currently sits on display at Parliament. There have also been many protests and rallies, some of which continue annually like the Invasion Day rally the first of which was the Day of Mourning protests in Sydney in 1938.
These acts of resilience and the many others not mentioned are all a result of our community coming together during times of need to support a common cause. We must continue to celebrate and honour those who have paved the way for us today while continuing their fight for not only them but our present community and the future generations.
Ryhia Dank, a young Gudanji/Wakaja artist from the Northern Territory, the winner of the prestigious National NAIDOC poster competition for 2022 with her entry, Stronger. Source: NAIDOC.
So, what can you do as a young person?
It might seem difficult, when looking at the history of resilience in our community, to know how you fit in to that and it may be daunting to think about how you could contribute, however even the smallest act of resilience means something!
A few examples could be attending rallies and protests with your family and friends, helping to educate those around you on the important topics and issues in community and encouraging them to get involved, sharing information and events online, calling out racism (when it’s safe to do so) and most importantly, every day that you show up as a proud Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander you are embodying this years theme!