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News - July 2008
► NAIDOC Week 2008
NAIDOC celebrations are held around Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. With a growing awareness of the distinct cultural histories of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, a committee was put in place in 1991, known as NAIDOC for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee.
Each year, a theme is chosen to reflect the important issues and events for NAIDOC.
The 2008 theme is ‘Advance Australia Fair?’. It has a very special meaning with the Australian Prime Minister's National Apology on 13 February 2008, and the Government's commitment to 'Closing the Gap' on disadvantage for Indigenous Australians, and the increasing attention being given to Indigenous issues in Australia. This theme aims to encourage people to reflect on the Australian principle of a “fair go” and to consider the inequalities still experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia today.
A NAIDOC poster competition is organised every year since the1970s on the year’s theme. In 2008, the winners are Duwun (Anthony) and Laniyuk (Ian) Lee. - To know more about the artists: www.naidoc.org.au/award_winners/poster/poster_win08.aspx
- To see the winning poster: www.naidoc.org.au/award_winners/poster/NaidocPoster08.pdf
But how did it all start?
The need for activism: 1920s and 1930s
Prior to the 1920s, Aboriginal Rights groups had boycotted Australia Day in protest against the status and treatment of Indigenous Australians. By the 1920s, they were increasingly aware that the media were largely ignorant of their effort. If the movement were to make progress, it would need to be active.
Several organisations emerged to fill this role, particularly the Australian Aborigines Progressive Association in 1924 and the Australian Aborigines League in 1932. Their efforts were also largely ignored and due to police harassment the AAPA was forced to abandon its work in 1927.
In 1932, William Cooper, founder of the AAL, drafted a petition to send to King George V. The government of the day held that the petition fell outside their constitutional responsibilities. In 1937, Cooper submitted the petition, but the Australian government did not forward it to the king.
The Day of Mourning: 1938
On Australia Day 1938, protestors marched through the streets of Sydney. The march was a prelude to a congress that was attended by around a thousand people. This was one of the first major civil rights gatherings in the world and was known as the Day of Mourning. It also set the stage for later counter-movements on Australia Day which have since become more widely known, such as Invasion Day.
The following week, a deputation from the congress presented the Prime Minister with a proposed national policy for Aboriginal people. At the time the government did not hold constitutional powers in relation to Aboriginal people so the policy was rejected.
After the Day of Mourning, there was a growing feeling that it should be a regular event. In 1939 William Cooper wrote to the National Missionary Council of Australia to seek their assistance in supporting and promoting an annual event.
1940 – 1956
From 1940 until 1955, the Sunday before Australia Day was the Day of Mourning, now known as Aborigines Day. The NMCA believed that the day should become not simply a protest day but also a celebration of Indigenous culture and so in 1955 the day was shifted to the first Sunday in July.
NAIDOC is formed and recognition grows: 1957 - 1990
Major Aboriginal organisations, the state and federal governments, and a number of church groups all supported the formation of NADOC – the National Aborigines Day Observance Committee. At the same time, the second Sunday in July became a day of remembrance for Aboriginal people and their heritage.
In 1972, the Department for Aboriginal Affairs was formed, following from the outcome of the 1967 referendum. In 1974, the committee for the first time was composed of entirely Aboriginal members. The following year, it was decided that the event should cover a week, from the first to second Sundays in July.
In 1984, NADOC asked that National Aborigines Day be made a national public holiday, to help celebrate and recognise the rich cultural history that makes Australia unique. While this has not happened, the call has been echoed by other groups, including ATSIC (Australia and Torres Strait Island), which is now ATSI, for Australia and Torres Strait Island.
TRIVIA
Let’s check how much you know about Indigenous Australians who built a reputation in the sport, cultural and political fields, with this NAIDOC trivia: www.naidoc.org.au/activities/trivia.aspx