Celebrating NAIDOC Week in 2021

NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. 
NAIDOC Week this year will take place from 4 – 11 July and there are lots of activities and events planned in West Arnhem including in Jabiru, Gunbalanya, Maningrida, Warruwi and Minjilang. 
In Gunbalanya, there are a range of events scheduled throughout the week including a smoking ceremony and speech from Traditional Owners to commence NAIDOC Week, flagraising ceremony, barbecue, spear making and spear throwing competition and prizes, didge lessons on oval with local mob (male only activity), football match at Oval & kids inflatable, Bininj Kunborrk (corroboree) at Injalak, bush tucker, weaving class and celebrations.
In Jabiru there will be a movie night, health expo fun day hosted by Red Lily Health Board and a community event with a barbecue, dancing, weaving, painting and more by Council.
In Maningrida there will be a NAIDOC themed event for youth incorporating a barbecue and face painting. There will also be events scheduled in Minjilang and Warruwi. Keep any eye out on your local noticeboards for events in your community.
The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. 
NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’. This committee was once responsible for organising national activities during NAIDOC Week and its acronym has since become the name of the week itself. Find out more about the origins and history of NAIDOC Week.
This year's theme is 'Heal Country!'
Heal Country! calls on all of us to continue to seek greater protections for our lands, our waters, our sacred sites and our cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration, and destruction. Heal Country! also means finally resolving many of the outstanding injustices which impact on the lives of our people.