NAIDOC Week 2021

In 2020, NAIDOC Week celebrations were postponed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In 2021, as restrictions change with COVID, communities across Queensland are getting together to celebrate and recognise the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Just like communities across the country, State Library of Queensland is celebrating NAIDOC this year from Sunday, 4 July to Sunday, 11 July 2021.

The theme for NAIDOC Week 2021 is, Heal Country, heal our nation!

Country is inherent to our identity. It sustains our lives in every aspect - spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially, and culturally. It is more than a place.

The 2021 National NAIDOC Poster, ‘Care for Country’ was designed by Gubbi Gubbi artist Maggie-Jean Douglas.

The artwork includes communities, people, animals and bush medicines spread over different landscapes of red dirt, green grass, bush land and coastal areas to tell the story of the many ways Country can and has healed us throughout our lives and journeys.

NAIDOC had its inception back in 1938 when on Australia Day, protesters marched through the streets of Sydney and that was known as the ‘Day of Mourning’.

Find out more information by visiting the National NAIDOC website.

GET INVOLVED!

If you are looking for ways to be involved with NAIDOC Week, have a look at these ideas.

Check out some of State Library of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collections, including these curated albums of historical photographs on Flickr:

• 1st July Coming of the Light 
• 4th July "NAIDOC 2021 - Heal Country"
• NAIDOC 2020 Always Was, Always Will be 
• Torres Strait Islanders 
• Torres Strait Islanders Part 2 
• Mapoon 

Find out more about some of State Library’s current and past exhibitions. 

State Library is also holding ‘Night by the Fire – Heal Country’, at the Yarning Circle in kuril dhagun on Thursday 15 July 2021 – watch the State Library’s website for more information.

Attend a local NAIDOC event:

NAIDOC events are held all over Queensland. Events can vary and can include festivals, markets, contemporary and traditional cultural performances, and marches.

For more information regarding NAIDOC celebrations in your area, please contact your local council or any local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander organisations to obtain details.

You can explore other events occurring around Queensland by looking at the official NAIDOC Week events calendar.