NAIDOC Week: Standing in Solidarity
2024 National NAIDOC Week Poster
For First Nations Peoples, NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate our rich cultures, successes, and collective wisdom. It is a moment of pride and recognition of our enduring connection to Country and community. However, this week is not just about celebration—it is also a call to action.
The theme this year, Keep the Fire Burning. Blak, Loud and Proud, celebrates the strength and spirit of our communities.
“While this week, we (continue) to recognise our cultures, successes and collective wisdom, I think it is also a call to action for all Australians to stand with us in solidarity and to elevate community voices.
“It is another visible opportunity for those of us who are First Nations' peoples to proudly own our identities and our connections with each other and with Country and for our non-Indigenous colleagues to celebrate with us,” Stephanie Harvey, CEO.
Non-Indigenous Australians play a pivotal role in this journey towards equality and justice. Standing in solidarity means recognising the systemic barriers that First Nations’ communities face and actively working to dismantle them. It means acknowledging that the fight for equality is not just a First Nations’ issue but a national one. When we join forces, our voices are stronger, and our calls for justice are louder.
“It is an opportunity for our supporters to stand with us on that invisible line that separates us from equality, justice, opportunities and the right to lead self-determining lives. It is an opportunity to join their voices with ours because things must change. They simply must. We have lost time, people and possibilities while we grapple with cycles of conditioning. It is no longer okay for incremental, small changes that don't create sustainable pathways to success,” Stephanie Harvey, CEO.
Too often, our stories and perspectives are overshadowed or ignored. By standing with us, non-Indigenous Australians can help amplify our voices, ensuring that our stories are heard, and our needs are addressed. This amplification is crucial in advocating for policies and practices that support self-determination and cultural preservation.
We encourage you to celebrate this week and to invite others to celebrate with you and learn more about the world's oldest Peoples and co-create a world where our wisdom and contributions are respected and valued.
This NAIDOC Week, we urge all Australians to stand with First Nations Peoples in solidarity. Participate in the many events this week, both in person and online, and take the time to learn, engage, and advocate. Together, we can create a future where equality, justice, and self-determination are not just ideals but realities.
Stay deadly!
For more information about NAIDOC Week and its significance, please visit the NAIDOC website.