My name is Gaby, and I am an ally of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people of Australia. I wondered whether I should do a blog post on NAIDOC week, or if I should leave this space to Aboriginal and Torres Straight Island peoples. After much thought and deliberation, being an ally is not a silent endeavour. So, I am lending my voice. 

What is NAIDOC Week?

The first week of July each year, from Sunday to Sunday is NAIDOC Week. To celebrate, events are held across Australia to celebrate and recognize the deep and rich history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Australia is the ONLY country in the world to have a continuous culture spanning 65,000, give or take 6,000 years. It could be 59,000 or it could be 71,000 years. Either way this is epic. Keeping in mind that this current archeology found somewhat inland. Much of what would have been land on the top of Australia is now underwater, and no doubt there are much older sites of the First Australians that are now under the ocean. 

NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations acknowledging the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

Attending local events is a wonderful way for you to support your local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities.

This gorgeous poster is by Bobbi Lockyer, a proud Ngarluma, Kariyarra, Nyulnyul and Yawuru artist. She was born and is based on Kariyarra Country in Port Hedland,. She is the winner of the prestigious National NAIDOC Week Poster Competition for 2023 with her entry: For Our Elders.

“Where there is knowledge there are our Elders. Our Elders paved the pathways for us, taught us our knowledge, our history, they passed down their art, stories and wisdom. Our Elders are the foundation of our communities and role models for our children. With this poster I wanted to showcase how important our Elders are in passing down traditions and culture to our children and future.”

-  Bobbi Lockyer

NAIDOC Week Resources:

• The National NAIDOC Week website

Download the posters here:

• 2023 NAIDOC Poster Print Version [PDF 7.24MB]
• 2023 NAIDOC Poster Electronic Version [PNG 1.78 MB]
• 2023 NAIDOC Poster Electronic Version [JPG 244 KB]

Learning About Aboriginal Australia through these sites

• Reconciliation Australia 
• Indigenous Literacy Foundation 
• First Languages Australia
• NAIDOC: Why we don't have a treaty
• Bringing them Home Report 1997 - learn about the Stolen Generations

Educational Resources from Aboriginal Owned Businesses:

• Riley Callie Resources
• Yarn Strong Sista

Recommended First Nations children's books:

1. Old Nana Quokka by Jacki Ferro
2. This Book Thinks Ya Deadly! A Celebration of Blak Excellence by Corey Tutt,  Molly Hunt (illus)
3. Bidhi Galing by Anita Heiss, Samantha Campbell (illus)
4. NT Mob Sharing Stories in Language by Various Authors
5. My Little Barlaagany (Sunshine) by Melissa Greenwood
6. Gurril - Storm Bird by Trevor Fourmile, Jingalu (illus)
7. Gurawul the Whale by Max Dulumunmun Harrison
8. Our Mob by Jacinta Daniher, Taylor Hampton
9. Mooie’s Stories by 'BurWhela' Ros Kneebone-Dodson
10. Hairy Holes by Brenton E. McKenna
11. The Bunyip and the Stars by Adam Duncan
12. Uncle Xbox by Jared Thomas
13. Story about Cat and Mouse: Stori bla brutbrut en bujigat by Carol Robertson
14. Come Together: Things Every Aussie Kid Should Know about the First Peoples
    by Isaiah Firebrace, Jaelyn Biumaiwai, Keisha Leon
15. Owl and Star by Helen Milroy
16. Back On Country: Welcome to Our Country by Adam Goodes, Ellie Laing & David Hardy
17. The The Heartbeat of the Land by Cathy Freeman, Coral Vass & Tannya Harricks (illus.)
18. Guardians (Wylah the Koorie Warrior, Book 1)
    Jordan Gould,Richard Pritchard
19. My Deadly Boots
    Carl Merrison,Hakea Hustler & Samantha Campbell (illus.)
20. Winthali (Fire)
    Joe Willigan Ross, Stacey Bush, Remi Nyandat Ross, Boheme Baiana Ross
21. Open Your Heart to Country
    Jasmine Seymour
22. Miimi Marraal, Mother Earth
    Melissa Greenwood
23. A Kunwinjku Counting Book
    Gabriel Maralngurra
24. Bobtail’s Friend: From The Desert To The Sea
    Rhonda Collard- Spratt,Jacki Ferro
25. Ninni Yabini
    Cheryl Kickett-Tucker, Tyrown Waigana
26. Nature All Around Us
    Kimberly Engwicht
27. Koori Princess
    Anita Heiss
28. Sounds All Around Us
    Ryhia Dank
29. luwa tara luwa waypa: three kangaroos three Tasmanian Aboriginal men
    Dave Mangenner Gough
30. Purlka ngamaji Kakaji (Big Fat Mummy Goanna)
    Emma Bear
31. Jarrampa
    Marshia Cook
32. Charlie’s Swim
    Edith Wright
33. Maku
    Meyne Wyatt,Meyne Wyatt
34. We Are Australians
    Duncan Smith,Nicole Godwin
35. Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country
    Adam Goodes,Ellie Laing & David Hardy
36. Go Home, Cheeky Animals!
    Johanna Bell
37. The Dunggiirr Brothers and the Caring Song of the Whale
    Shaa Smith,Neeyan Smith
38. This is Me!
    Sally Morgan
39. Numbers All Around Us
    Rachael Sarra
40. Animals All Around Us
    Melanie Hava
41. Looking After Country with Fire: Aboriginal Burning Knowledge With Uncle Kuu
    Victor Steffensen & Sandra Steffensen (illus.)
42. The Art in Animals: A Numbers and Words Treasury
    Bronwyn Bancroft
43. Wiradjuri Country
    Larry Brandy
44. Born to Run
    Cathy Freeman
45. Sharing
    Aunty Fay Muir,Sue Lawson
46. Somebody’s Land
    Adam Goodes, Ellie Laing, David Hardy
47. The First Scientists: Deadly Inventions and Innovations from Australia’s First Peoples
    Corey Tutt, Blak Douglas
48. KARRKIN My Body
    Maureen Yanawana
49. Today’s Sun
    Gregg Dreise
50. Albert Namatjira
    Vincent Namatjira
51. Mixed Feelings (Book 1)
    Declan Miller
52. Storm Warning Book 1
    Lauren Boyle
53. Heroes, Rebels and Innovators: Inspiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from history
    Karen Wyld
54. Story Doctors
    Boori Monty Pryor
55. Barraeemal
    Carolyn Briggs
56. Kunyi
    Kunyi June Anne McInerney
57. Sea Country
    Aunty Patsy Cameron
58. Walking in Gagudju Country
    Diane Lucas,Ben Tyler
59. Main Abija My Grandad
    Karen Rogers
60. The Emu Who Ran Through the Sky (Tales from the Bush Mob, Book 2)
    Helen Milroy
61. Hello and Welcome
    Gregg Dreise
62. Backyard Bugs
    Helen Milroy
63. Welcome, Child!
    Sally Morgan
64. Billie and the Blue Bike
    Ambelin Kwaymullina
65. Day Break
    Amy McQuire
66. Bindi
    Kirli Saunders
67. I Want To Be A Superhero
    Breanna Humes
68. The Art in Country: A Treasury for Children
    Bronwyn Bancroft
69. Father Sky and Mother Earth
    Oodgeroo
70. Took the Children Away
    Archie Roach
71. Shirley Purdie: My Story, Ngaginybe Jarragbe
    Shirley Purdie
72. Aunty’s Wedding
    Miranda Tapsell,Joshua Tyler
73. Family
    Aunty Fay Muir,Sue Lawson
74. Found
    Bruce Pascoe
75. Finding Our Heart
    Thomas Mayor
76. Too Many Cheeky Dogs (Bigismob Jigiwan Dog)
    Johanna Bell
77. Willy-willy Wagtail (Tales from the Bush Mob, Book 1)
    Helen Milroy
78. Respect
    Aunty Fay Muir,Sue Lawson
    “Our Way is old. / Older than the r
79. My Australian Story: Who Am I (New Edition)
    Anita Heiss
80. What do you call a baby…?
    Kamsani Bin Salleh
81. Mum’s Elephant
    Maureen Jipiyiliya Nampijinpa O'Keefe
82. Counting Our Country
    Jill Daniels
83. Brother Moon
    Maree McCarthy Yoelu
84. Our Home, Our Heartbeat
    Adam Briggs
85. Wombat, Mudlark & Other Stories
    Helen Milroy
86. Wilam: A Birrarung Story
    Aunty Joy Murphy,Andrew Kelly
87. Coming Home to Country
    Bronwyn Bancroft
88. Backyard Birds
    Helen Milroy
89. Hello, Hello
    Indigenous Literacy Foundation,Children from the Spinifex Writing Camp
90. An A to Z Story of Australian Animals
    Sally Morgan
91. Going to the Footy
    Debbie Coombes
92. Japarrika Rises
    David Lawrence,Tiwi College Alalinguwi Jarrakarlinga,Shelley Ware
93. Yinti, Desert Child
    Pat Lowe,Jimmy Pike
94. My Culture and Me
    Gregg Dreise
95. Baby Business
    Jasmine Seymour
96. Sorry Day
    Coral Vass
97. Little Bird’s Day
    Sally Morgan
98. Young Dark Emu: A Truer History
    Bruce Pascoe
99. I Saw, We Saw
    Yolnu Students from Nhulunbuy Primary School
100. Alkere. Sky
     Children's Ground
101. Nganga: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Words and Phrases
     Aunty Fay Muir,Sue Lawson
102. Black Cockatoo
     Carl Merrison,Hakea Hustler
103. The Last Dance
     Sally Morgan
104. My Kind
     Eddie Betts
105. Japarrika
     David Lawrence,Tiwi College Alalinguwi Jarrakarlinga,Shelley Ware
106. I Love Me
     Sally Morgan,Ambelin Kwaymullina
107. My Australian Story: Our Race for Reconciliation
     Anita Heiss
108. Why I Love Australia
     Bronwyn Bancroft
109. The Rainbow Serpent
     Dick Roughsey,Percy Trezise
110. Shake A Leg
     Jan Ormerod,Boori Monty Pryor
111. Two-Hearted Numbat
     Ezekiel Kwaymullina,Ambelin Kwaymullina
112. Big Rain Coming
     Katrina Germein
113. Sister Heart
     Sally Morgan
114. Sea Horse
     Bruce Pascoe
115. Fog a Dox
     Bruce Pascoe
116. Kicking Goals with Goodesy and Magic
     Adam Goodes,Anita Heiss
117. Stradbroke Dreamtime: Deluxe Edition
     Oodgeroo Nunukul ,B Bancroft
118. Welcome to My Country
     Laklak Burarrwanga,Family