NAIDOC Week

Happy NAIDOC Week!

The NAIDOC 2022 theme – Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! – was chosen by the National NAIDOC Committee. It recognises the history of getting up, standing up, and showing up – from the Frontier Wars to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities fighting for change today, and the courage not to lose momentum for change. Whether it’s seeking environment, cultural and heritage protections, Constitutional change, a comprehensive process of truth-telling, working towards treaties, or calling out racism – everyone must do it together.

NAIDOC week is a great opportunity for all scouts to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Even though this week is school holidays and we aren’t all meeting, we can still honour this year’s theme of ‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!’ throughout the year and at all levels of scouting.  Here are some ideas to include in your scout program all year around.

  • Display the National NAIDOC Poster or other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander posters around your scout den.

 

  • Learn the meanings of local or national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander place names and words.

 

  • Listen to First Nations musicians or watch a movie about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and analyse the main themes and messages. Relate these themes and messages to the 2022 NAIDOC Week theme, Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!

 

  • Make your own Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trivia quiz, highlighting achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and significant milestones for First Nations peoples and communities.

 

  • Display the Australian Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag at your scout den, these can be obtained free of charge by contacting the electorate office of your local member of parliament.

 

  • Research the Traditional Owners and languages of your area – reach out to your Local Aboriginal Land Council, Elders groups or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations for information (use this as an opportunity to create ongoing relationships). Local councils can assist to find links to your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations.

 

  • Invite a local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artist or musician to share art, crafts and music practices.

 

  • Run an art competition for your scout group asking them to reflect on what the 2022 theme means and interpret this through their artwork.

 

  • Visit local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sites of significance or interest in your area.

 

The above information has been adapted from the NAIDOC website and  SBS Learn. In partnership with The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) and National NAIDOC Committee , SBS Learn has published some great resources structured around the 2022 theme of ‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!’.  This resource is designed for teachers, however it can be easily adapted for scouting.

 

Georgia Sands

Branch Commissioner (Diversity and Inclusion)