The annual NAIDOC week – eight days celebrating the culture, history and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – is returning from 7-14 July, and the Northern Beaches is hosting a range of events and workshops.
The nationwide exhibitions, craftwork, storytelling and awards ceremonies take place every year between the first and second Sundays in July and adopt a central theme.
The theme for the 2024 activities is “Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud and proud”, with fire chosen as a symbol of the interconnection between people, places and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. The national week of culture traces its origins to the 1920s when Indigenous Australians, who were not eligible to vote in the country in which their peoples lived for 60,000+ years, began raising awareness of their status, social isolation and treatment.
From there it grew into a movement for national recognition while simultaneously displaying and celebrating Indigenous achievements, and in the mid 1970s the week of awareness was officially endorsed as a regular cultural event.
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins invites the community to join in celebrating the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“NAIDOC Week first began in 1975 as an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories,” she said. “The tradition has continued as recognition and celebration of the history and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – the oldest, continuous living culture on earth.
“I encourage you to come together as a community and honour and pay our respects to our First Nations peoples.”
Below is the list of local activities overseen by Northern Beaches Council (plus there is a wide variety of exhibitions and workshops in and across the City, just a ferry ride away).
NAIDOC tree creations
9am–5pm, Saturday 6 July to Sunday 21 July
Council Libraries
Celebrate NAIDOC Week these school holidays and take part in our tree creations activity. Pick up a template in the library. Complete your gumleaf designs, write a message to our beautiful trees, and decorate our tree creations.
NAIDOC Week Opening Day Celebration
11am–2pm, Sunday 7 July
Tramshed Arts and Community Centre 1395A Pittwater Road Narrabeen
Enjoy live music, bushtucker talks and tastings, plus weaving, dance and art workshops all run by Aboriginal owned businesses.
NAIDOC Storytelling at Dee Why
9.30–10.30am, Monday 8 July
Dee Why Library, 725 Pittwater Road, Dee Why
Celebrate NAIDOC Week with a special storytelling on First Nations knowledge of trees and our wildlife connections. The event is aimed at primary school aged children.
NAIDOC Story Box Screenings
Council Libraries
Drop-in to the library space for a showcase of stories from Story Box Library’s First Nations Stories collection.
Warringah Mall Library: Monday 8 July, 1–5pm
Mona Vale Library: Wednesday 10 July, 9am–1pm
Manly Library: Friday 12 July, 1–5pm
Aboriginal Bracelet Weaving Workshops
Learn the art of weaving in a hands-on experience with local Ngumpie Weaving. For children and youth aged 8+
Mona Vale Creative Space Gallery, Mona Vale Library
10–11.30am, Wednesday 10 July
Manly Library, 1 Market Lane, Manly
2–3.30pm, Wednesday 10 July
NAIDOC Week Markets
10am–12pm, Friday 12 July, Pittwater Rugby Park, 1472 Pittwater Road, North Narrabeen
Celebrate NAIDOC Week with live music, bushtucker talks and weaving workshops run by Aboriginal owned businesses.
Weaving Stories Workshops at Manly
10am–12pm, Friday 12 July
The Creative Library, Level 1, Manly Library, 1 Market Lane, Manly
Learn from local Aboriginal knowledge holders and a traditional master weaver, while exploring your own creativity.
Three Echoes: Western Desert Art exhibition
Exhibition runs until 28 July
Manly Art Gallery & Museum, 1a West Esplanade, Manly
Showcasing works by 57 acclaimed artists heralding from Ikuntji (Haasts Bluff), Papunya and Utopia Aboriginal communities in the western desert regions of the Northern Territory, Australia.
Full activities and events lists
NAIDOC on the Northern Beaches: https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/whats-on/naidoc-week
NAIDOC across the City and Greater Sydney: https://www.naidoc.org.au/local-events/local-naidoc-week-events?title=&postcode=&state=19
Aboriginal Heritage Office (based in Freshwater, with a museum): https://www.aboriginalheritage.org/
