How to celebrate NAIDOC Week – or ‘Black Christmas’ – in Melbourne
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NAIDOC Week – or “Black Christmas”, as some Aboriginal Australians have affectionately nicknamed it – has arrived, and with it an array of events to honour First Nations cultures and histories across Melbourne.
But what is NAIDOC, and how should you celebrate it?
Adele and Alyssa watch their mum Lysander get her face painted in traditional Indigenous style by Merilyn Duff at Melbourne Zoo to open NAIDOC Week on July 2.Credit: Chris Hopkins
NAIDOC Week – which stands for the National Aboriginals and Islanders Day Observance Committee – stems from the activism of Aboriginal groups in the 1920s and 1930s. In particular, the first Day of Mourning in 1938, when protesters marched through Sydney on Australia Day, January 26, and thousands attended the first national Aboriginal civil rights gathering.
After this significant milestone, the organisers decided it should be a regular rally. So, in 1939, Indigenous activist and Yorta Yorta elder William Cooper asked the government to establish an annual event.
In 1940, the Sunday before Australia Day was designated “Aboriginal Sunday”, but the event was moved to July in 1955. In the mid-1970s, after the committee finally became entirely Aboriginal-run, the event was extended to a week, from the first Sunday to the second Sunday of July.
Initially, the idea was to remind the public of the unjust treatment of First Nations people, but the tone of the day gradually shifted towards a celebration of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
NAIDOC Week runs until Sunday, July 9.Credit: Chris Hopkins
Each year, NAIDOC nominates a theme and a poster for the event. This year, the theme For Our Elders recognises the important role elders play within First Nations communities.
The celebrations kicked off on Sunday, but there’s a lot more to look forward to over the coming days. We’ve handpicked seven events to guide you through NAIDOC Week in Melbourne.
NAIDOC Family Day at the Collingwood Children’s Farm
Aboriginal Housing Victoria’s NAIDOC Family Day at the Collingwood Children’s Farm is back on Wednesday after a brief hiatus. This one’s a family favourite and includes traditional dancing, storytelling, live music, traditional crafts and art. There’s also a raffle, which makes any day of celebration official, and is a free event. Wednesday, July 5, 10.30am-3pm. 18 St Heliers Street, Abbotsford.
Sounds of Country
City of Melbourne’s Sounds of Country will see emerging Aboriginal artists perform outside the GPO Bourke Street at lunchtime all week. Each day will feature a different artist and is free to watch. Until Sunday, July 9, lunchtimes. 350 Bourke Street, Melbourne.
Vic NAIDOC Pride Gala
The Victoria NAIDOC Pride Gala at the Fitzroy Town Hall on Thursday night will bring artists, performances and speakers from the Blak Koorie LGBTQIA+ community to the fore with dinner and a show to celebrate elders and Blak excellence. Thursday, July 6, 5:45pm. 201 Napier St, Fitzroy. Free-$120.
Drag artist Cerulean at last year’s NAIDOC Week Awards in Melbourne. Credit: Getty
The NAIDOC Week march
Things really ratchet up on Friday, and if you’re looking to get full NAIDOC-core, then you can’t miss the march. Take the kids to the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service in Fitzroy for some entertainment, face-painting and banner-making at 10am before The March makes its way into the CBD around midday.
The procession will wind past the Fig Tree on top of Gertrude Street, the Pastor Sir Doug and Lady Nicholls statue, Parliament House, the corner of Bourke and Swanston Streets, and conclude at the intersection of Flinders and Swanston Streets. Friday, July 7, 10am. Start at 186 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy.
A family attends the NAIDOC Week march in Melbourne in 2022.Credit: Facebook/Victorian Naidoc
NAIDOC in the City
After the long walk, head across to Federation Square for City of Melbourne’s NAIDOC in the City. The main stage will feature performances from Shauntai Sherree, Bumpy, Mitch Tambo, Tia Gostelow and The Indigenous Outreach Projects. There’ll also be stalls to explore, NAIDOC merch to buy and traditional food all the way through to 6pm. Friday, July 7, 3pm-6pm. Federation Square, Melbourne.
NGV events
While you’re in the precinct, the NGV also has a bevvy of NAIDOC Week activities on offer on Saturday, including various art and craft workshops, tours of the Koorie Heritage Trust, traditional dance performances, curator tours of contemporary First Nations art and a film screening of Ngarigo man Peter Waples-Crowe’s “cut-and-paste, punked-up look at Country”, Ngaya (I Am). Saturday, July 8, 10am-3pm. 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne.
Placards at the NAIDOC Week march in July 2021.Credit: Getty
NAIDOC Gala Ball
NAIDOC Week isn’t complete without an elegant gown – or some other glamorous dinner finery – and a deadly sashay up a stretch of red carpet. So, get into yours and make your way to the Vic NAIDOC Gala Ball from 5pm at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Wharf. There will be flashy paparazzi outside, and famous faces, dinner and dancing within. Go large with a prominent table or just pop by to gawp at the razzle dazzle. Saturday, July 8, 5pm-10.30pm. 1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf. $170-$4000.
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