NAIDOC Week: 1 - 8 July 2012

NAIDOC Week is one of the most important events on Australia’s Indigenous calendar.

It is a celebration of Indigenous culture and heritage and provides an opportunity to promote understanding and awareness among all Western Australians.

Background

NAIDOC stands for National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Day of Observance Committee. The acronym for this Committee “NAIDOC” has now become commonly known as a weeklong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural festival celebrated annually in the first full week of July.

The festival has a long history, stemming back to a human rights movement for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people in the 1920s. NAIDOC however was not officially started as a Committee until 1957.

In 1974, the NADOC committee was composed entirely of Aboriginal members for the first time. The following year, it was decided that the event should cover a week, from the first to second Sunday in July.

NAIDOC Week, which begins on 1 July 2012, showcases Indigenous people’s achievements and their contributions to the nation.

It is a time to reflect on achievements so far and to renew commitments to reconciliation by exploring ways to help create a better future for Indigenous Australians.