NAIDOC Week

By Koorie Counsellor Tristan West (he/him), Yorta Yorta and Baraba Baraba man & Year 6 student

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year. NAIDOC week celebrates and recognises the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year NAIDOC week was during the July school holidays, so our school celebrated earlier.  

Some great examples of our celebrations were the Year 5 learning about how to portray different native animals through dance. Our celebration concluded with a whole school assembly at the end of week 1 of term 3. 

The theme for NAIDOC week this year was Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! Some examples of getting up, standing up and showing up can be, getting up and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, standing up against racist comments or stereotypes and showing up to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander's activities. 

naidoc.org.au and niaa.gov.au both have amazing resources about NAIDOC week. 

How will you get up, stand up, show up? 

**Stay deadly!  -  (Aboriginal Slang for Awesome, see below for explanation. )

Fun Fact

Not What it Sounds Like – “Deadly”

Here’s the interesting thing. When you hear the word “deadly” used by Aboriginal people down under, you’d better hold off that mournful visage. For one, everyone else will be smiling because “deadly” is slang for “awesome” and “great.” At least, that’s how Aboriginal people consider the word.

For more native slang phrases please see:  https://www.daytranslations.com/blog/learn-aboriginal-aussie/