NAIDOC Week: “Because of her, we can!” 9 – 15 July 2018

The National NAIDOC Committee has recently announced the the NAIDOC 2018 theme as – ‘Because of her, we can!’

The theme celebrates the essential role that women have played – and continue to play – as active and significant role models at the community, local, state and national levels.

 

From the NSW Department of Education Website on Planning NAIDOC Week & Cultural Diversity:

NAIDOC week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’, the committee responsible for organising national activities during NAIDOC Week. Its acronym has now become the name of the week.

NAIDOC Week has a long history beginning with the human rights movement for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the 1920s. From 1940 until 1955, the Day of Mourning was held annually on the Sunday before Australia Day and was known as Aborigines Day.

In 1955 Aborigines Day was shifted to the first Sunday in July after it was decided the day should become not simply a protest day but also a celebration of Aboriginal culture. Later the second Sunday in July became a day of remembrance for Aboriginal people and their heritage which resulted in NAIDOC week. A timeline of the history of the struggle for Aboriginal rights and recognition can be downloaded from the NAIDOC site.

NAIDOC is not just a celebration for Indigenous communities but for all Australians. The week is an opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Each year, a theme is chosen for the week to reflect the important issues and events for NAIDOC.

Below are some arts & crafts activities which you can do with your children as you encourage them to learn about our First Australians and their abundant ancient and vibrant culture. 

Paper Plate Dot Painting

Plaster Cast Hands

Colour a Snake

Boomerangs Craft Activity

Bark Petitions Craft Activity

Aboriginal Flag Craft Activity

Torres Strait Island Flag Felt Craft Activity

Pebble Painting Craft

Here you can find the NSW NAIDOC Document pack from 2017 with lots of fun activities

This is the Queensland Activity Book for NAIDOC 2017

 

On YouTube, you can find lots of stories taken from the dreaming that teach valuable lessons, they are full of colour, and entertaining to all ages. Some of these are read by children:

How the Birds Got Their Colours

Biladurang The Platypus

Tiddalick The Frog

Girawu The Goanna

Rainbow Snake

How the Kangaroos Got Their Tails

Why the Emu Cannot Fly

How the Kangaroo got it’s Pouch

 

We hope you enjoy NAIDOC Week 2018. We also hope that some of the activities we have provided you with will enable you to talk about the First Australian’s culture and lives with your children.

 

At Angel’s Paradise we endeavour to create diversity in learning, to encourage children to experience different people and cultures, and to strengthened relationship with our First Australians.