Indigenous Awareness: NAIDOC Week Speakers 2024

Contents:

 

• Overview
• What Does NAIDOC Stand For?
• When is NAIDOC Week?
• Other important dates
• How to acknowledge NAIDOC Week
• NAIDOC Week Keynote Speakers

 

Celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians by hearing first-hand stories from our roster of NAIDOC Week speakers in 2024. NAIDOC Week is a significant annual event where we take time to recognise Indigenous communities’ contributions, histories, cultures and accomplishments while reflecting on the ongoing journey towards reconciliation.

NAIDOC Week celebrations across Australia are held during the first week of July each year, running from Sunday the 7th to Sunday the 14th of July in 2024. An independent and voluntary National NAIDOC Committee is responsible for making key decisions about NAIDOC Week on behalf of all First Nations people. This includes selecting the annual theme as well as the winner of the National NAIDOC Week Poster Competition, National NAIDOC Week Awards and choosing the focus city for future National NAIDOC Week Awards Ceremonies.

The NAIDOC Week 2024 theme is “Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud.” This theme celebrates the unyielding spirit of First Nation communities, inviting everyone to stand in solidarity and amplify voices that have been silenced for too long. The fire represents the vitality and enduring strength of Indigenous cultures passed down through generations while overcoming significant challenges. It also represents connection to the land, to one other, as well as the rich, diverse range of traditions of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“Blak, Loud and Proud” unapologetically celebrates Indigenous identity while inviting all of us to listen, learn, and engage in meaningful dialogue. The NAIDOC Week 2024 theme focuses on kindling sparks of pride and unity while renewing our commitment to acknowledging, preserving and sharing the cultural heritage of our nation. By working to reclaim narratives, amplify voices and commit to justice and equality, we can take steps towards fostering a society that values and respects the wisdom and contributions of Indigenous peoples.

Australians from all walks of life, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, come together to celebrate NAIDOC Week. Events are held across Australia to acknowledge the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The week is an excellent opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to gain a deeper understanding of this land’s original custodians.

If you are looking to organise a NAIDOC Week event, contact us, and we can connect to one of our Indigenous speakers who are a good fit for your event, budget and audience.

 

What does NAIDOC stand for?

NAIDOC stands for ”National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee”. 

Originating in the 1920’s when Aboriginal groups began to emerge with the goal of raising awareness about the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians among the wider community. NAIDOC grew from a protest and political movement over the decades to a regular event celebrating Indigenous culture during the 1940’s and 50’s. By 1975, it became the week long event we know today. 

 

When is NAIDOC Week?

NAIDOC week will be held from 7 – 14 July 2024.

Other important dates:

• 13 February – Anniversary of National Apology Day
• 16 March – National Close the Gap Day
• 26 May – National Sorry Day
• 27 May – 3 June – National Reconciliation Week
• 4 August – National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day
• 9 August – International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
• 6 September – Indigenous Literacy Day

 

How to acknowledge NAIDOC Week

There are many ways to celebrate NAIDOC Week and pay our respects to the traditional custodians of our beautiful country. In line with this year’s theme, learning as much as we can about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture is central to this. NAIDOC Week events are encouraged to be organised by workplaces, schools and communities.

In fact, First Nations communities, registered businesses, schools and local governments are all eligible to apply for funding in order to run an event or activity that directly relates to the NAIDOC 2024 theme. This includes arts based activities like painting, music, dancing, crafts and storytelling. It also includes family fun days and community activities, NAIDOC themed competitions or sporting activities, cultural and Elders activities as well as activities that promote Reconciliation.

Other simple things you can do include displaying the National NAIDOC poster or learning more about local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander place names and words. A good place to start is learning the traditional place names for each capital city. Melbourne is known as Naarm, for example, while Brisbane is Meanjin, Sydney is known as Warrane and Perth is known as Boorloo. Making time to learn about and engage with Indigenous Australian art and history is also a great way to celebrate. One of the most powerful ways to acknowledge NAIDOC Week however, is by inviting Indigenous speakers, Elders and representatives to your event. This could involve anything from a Welcome to Country ceremony or inspiring educational talk, to a comedy or musical performance.

There is so much the Indigenous community has to share with us this NAIDOC Week. Taking the time to centre Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices will allow us to learn not only about their rich cultural practices, beliefs and traditions, but also about our own relationships with the world around us.

 

NAIDOC Week Keynote Speakers

ICMI collaborates with many inspiring diversity and inclusion speakers, including Indigenous Australian speakers and performers with a wealth of knowledge, stories and talents to share. Reconciliation is built on respect. Acknowledging the deep ties that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have to the land is one great way of showing respect. Equally important is respecting their authority on cultural practices and listening to Indigenous speakers on how the future of reconciliation should look. Start the process by engaging one of our NAIDOC Week speakers 2024.

 

Why have an Indigenous Australian speaker at your event?

Firstly, it’s important to centre those with lived experience in any program or event about Australia’s traditional custodians. Nobody but an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person can perform a welcome to country, although you can perform an acknowledgement of country instead.

Many of Australia’s best known sporting personalities, for example, happen to be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background. These invaluable speakers can share insights focused on sport, diversity, inclusion at your event.

Sean Choolburra, proud Girramay, Kalkadoon, Pitta Pitta and Gugu Yalanji man, is one of Australia’s most popular and versatile Indigenous Australian performers and comedians. His long-standing career in the entertainment industry has seen him perform for the likes of the Dalai Lama and Prince Charles, host his own TV series and even feature on Playschool! At the heart of all Sean does is his passion to share his culture and make people laugh. He infuses both of these elements into all of his performances to make his shows memorable, educational and unique.

Another brilliant option for NAIDOC Week speakers 2024 is Australian music icon and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocate Christine Anu. With a 27-year career spanning across radio, music, stage and screen, she is one of Australia’s most popular recording artists and the winner of numerous awards. A celebrated national treasure, Christine uses her voice and reputation to spread a message of unity and hope. Christine is one of ICMI’s best diversity and inclusion keynote speakers and speaks with authority and humour.

Noel Pearson of the Guugu Yimidhirr community is another prominent Indigenous speaker and activist. Noel is a lawyer, academic, and land rights advocate with a career in activism and political reform that spans decades. He is also the founder of the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership, an organisation that promotes economic and social development of Cape York. Noel Pearson is a captivating speaker who has a wealth of knowledge to share about ongoing legal and political battles faced by the Indigenous community.

Professional Chef, Nornie Bero is a Torres Strait Islander woman hailing from the Komet Tribe of the Mer Island Meriam people. After working in prestigious restaurants for over 20 years in both Melbourne and London, she is more passionate than ever about sharing the ingredients she grew up with.
Learn more about native spices and sustainable proteins and get insights in the food business. As a First Nations celebrity chef and female innovator carving her own path in the food business, Bero is an endless repository of wisdom and inspiration.

Multi-award winning current affairs host, author and adventurer, Stan Grant is the Indigenous Affairs Editor for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Appointed by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as special advisor on Indigenous constitutional recognition in 2016, Stan is passionate about justice and humanity. Above all, he believes in the power and resilience of people.

 

The ICMI roster features an incredible variety of diversity and inclusion speakers, Indigenous motivational speakers and inspirational Indigenous speakers.

From all of the ICMI team, we hope you celebrate NAIDOC Week 2024 in a powerful way. We hope you can join all Australians in celebrating and honouring the rich culture, history and achievements of the original custodians of this land.

 

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