Happy NAIDOC Week! This week, 7-14 July, we celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

This year’s theme is Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud and proud. Have you seen the amazing 2024 NAIDOC Week poster, ‘Urapun Muy’ / One Fire? It was designed by Torres Strait Islander artist Deb Belyea. Download it and find out more about it here or pick up a copy from Target or Kmart stores.

Lutheran Care is getting involved in NAIDOC Week by participating in a number of events and also offering some opportunities for staff to learn about and connect with First Nations cultures and histories, and celebrate the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. Our teams will also be invited to experience the talents of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander filmmakers, with a series of lunchtime short film screenings as part of Nunga Screen, in partnership with Country Arts SA. 

With thanks to Lutheran Care’s Aboriginal Engagement Worker Emily McConnell for her assistance, we are excited to share with you the following NAIDOC event highlights, which are just some of the festivities happening this week. We encourage our staff, volunteers, clients and community to get involved.

NAIDOC in Rundle Mall 

Celebrate under the Gawler Place Canopy in Rundle Mall from 10am on Tuesday, 9 July with an official Kaurna Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, followed by the unveiling of this year’s artwork by town incredible Aboriginal artists, Mali Isabel and Drew Kilner. Enjoy live entertainment and activities 10.30am – 1.30pm, including Animals Anonymous, live music from Rob Edwards, Native food tasting from the Australian Wattlebush Catering and more. For more information, click here.

NAIDOC in the North

On Wednesday, 10 July, you can catch some of our team at one of the information stalls at the free NAIDOC in the North event. Running from 10am-2pm at John McVeity Centre, 182 Peachey Rd, Smithfield Plains South Australia, the event will also include a free BBQ feed, performances, activities, music, a fire pit, Elders area, kids fun and a chill out zone. Find out more, here. 

Art and Story Telling with Kyle Sampson-Booth

Also on 10 July, Kyle Sampson-Booth will deliver a free interactive art and storytelling workshop at headspace in Mount Barker, from 3.30pm to 5pm. Kyle is proud Peramangk / Ngarrindjeri man, born on Kaurna Country in Adelaide, and now lives on Peramangk Country in the Adelaide Hills. Kyle shares a connection through bloodline also to Arrernte, Warumungu and Yuggara peoples through the central and East coast of Australia. The free workshop will encourage participants to paint their own story, to be incorporated into a larger wall mural. More info here.

Australia’s Native Supermarket and Native Plants, sharing knowledge for a healthy future

On Thursday, 11 July at Beltana Cafe, Urrbrae from 3.45pm-6pm,, embark on a sensory journey exploring Australian Native Plants and Food including a book launch and a culinary experience. The event is part of a collaboration between South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), Red Centre Enterprises, First Nations Elders and communities which aims to support the development of information and training materials that can increase awareness and preserve the knowledge of Australian Native Foods and Medicine plants. We will be launching the first booklet that showcases 20 of these native plants, providing tasting of the raw plants and showcasing some products that can be produced using these plants. For more information please click here.

NAIDOC March and Family Festival

On Friday, 12 July, gather at Tarndanyangga (Victoria Square) at 10.30am for a 11.00am start to march down King William Street to Parliament House. Following the march will be the NAIDOC Family Festival at  Adelaide Festival Plaza & Elder Park. This Festival will have something for everyone including stalls, live entertainment and music, activities for the kids, amusement rides, food trucks and a BBQ. Find out more here.

Nancy Bates and LENI

First Nations composer, singer and proud Barkindji Woman, Nancy Bates, will perform at Payinthi in Prospect, on Friday, 12 July as part of NAIDOC Week celebrations. Nancy is a true champion for the music industry and the Aboriginal community, known for her incredible talent and dedication. Recognised for her contributions, Nancy was a finalist for Australian Women in Music’s Humanitarian Award 2022 and was awarded a star on Adelaide Festival Centre’s Walk of Fame (Critic’s Choice Award) in 2023. Supporting Nancy on this special night will the infectious and dynamic LENI, an Indigenous Mapuché Chilean-Australian singer and guitarist who blends Alt R&B, Folk, Hip Hop and Soul into his captivating music. The show will run from 7pm-10pm and bookings are essential. For more information and to book, please click here. Please note this is a paid event and only suitable for people 18 years and over. 

Gawler NAIDOC Family Fun Day
The Lutheran Care team invites you to come say hi at their stall at the Gawler NAIDOC Family Fun Day, at the Gawler Sport and Community Centre on Friday, 19 July, from 10am-2pm. This  free family friendly event will include a Welcome to Country, live entertainment, stalls and displays, BBQ and much more. For more information and to book your tickets, please click here. 

Other ways to acknowledge NAIDOC Week:

•       Learning more about NAIDOC Week at the website, here: https://www.naidoc.org.au/ or the NAIDOC SA website here: https://naidocsa.com.au/
•       Finding out whose Country you are on – https://aiatsis.gov.au/whose-country
•       Watching a TV show or film created by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander creatives
•       Reading and sharing articles, events, thought pieces and resources.