NAIDOC 2020 - Always Was, Always Will Be

State Library of Queensland is committed to providing a deeper understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history through its collections, utilising online platforms to engage the community. 

In alignment with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collections Commitments a Flickr Commons album has been created to recognise that First Nations people in Australia have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years, In the spirit of NAIDOC [National Aboriginal and Islanders Day of Celebration] 2020 theme Always Was, Always Will Be we acknowledge that Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders were the first explorers of this land, with oral histories that are the oldest in the world and historical structures predating Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge.

NAIDOC 2020 also acknowledges the First Nation of the Torres Strait that has existed for over five thousand years, becoming a part of Queensland's Indigenous history.

State Library of Queensland believe that a crucial part of understanding and building a holistic approach towards Queensland’s history requires the opening of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander information for researchers to explore history, tell the untold stories and move towards a less eurocentric viewpoint.

Photographs in this Flickr Commons album were chosen to portray the natural and varying beauty of Indigenous Australia, the simplicity of a hunter gather culture and the ability to survive on traditional lands for tens of thousands of generations. 

We hope these images profile Queensland's First Nations history and encourage further discussion and research.

This blog contains Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander content, which has been made available in accordance with State Library of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collections Commitments.

Cultural Care statement (disclaimer)

Users are advised that this Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander material may contain culturally sensitive imagery and descriptions which may not normally be used in certain public or community contexts. Annotation and terminology which reflects the creator's attitude or that of the era in which the item was created may be considered inappropriate today. This material may also contain images, voices or names of deceased persons.