National NAIDOC Week 2022 Poster Announced and How to Celebrate This Special Week
NAIDOC Week 2022 poster by Nardurna. Courtesy of NAIDOC 2022.
With NAIDOC Week just around the corner, now is the time to start planning your 2022 celebrations! NAIDOC Week is held nationwide from 3-10 July 2022. It invites the nation to embrace First Nations’ cultural knowledge and understanding of Country as part of Australia's national heritage, and to equally respect the culture and values of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
On May 5, 2022, the NAIDOC committee announced the winner of their prestigious National NAIDOC poster competition: Gudanji/Wakaja artist Ryhia Dank! We wish Rhyia a warm congratulations for her winning entry titled “Stronger.” The Northern Territory-born artist will attend the 2022 National NAIDOC Awards Ceremony in Narrm (Melbourne) this year as a guest of the National NAIDOC Committee (NAIDOC Committee, 2022).
In an exclusive interview with the NAIDOC Committee, Ryhia - who goes by the artist name “Nardurna” (means “woman” in her traditional language) - explained that this year’s NAIDOC theme means “all of us mob standing together becoming one; fighting; representing; being proud,” as well as “being able to teach others - all of the non-Indigenous people, new people in Australia, just to teach our history and teach that Australia does have a black history and making people aware of that” (Ryhia, 2022).
When it came to conceptualising the design of the poster, Ryhia wanted a “graphic style” for the poster as she felt it “would work really well with the theme [as it’s] something really bold.” (Ryhia, 2022).
“In the poster, I have little bits of me and my family in there. I've got a little icon on the side of a dancing stick that my family uses in our traditional ceremonies, and then I've got a little crocodile on the side that represents my grandmother - she's one of the strongest people I know,” the proud Gudanji/Wakaja woman said, explaining the details.
Don’t forget to check out Rhyia’s artistry via her Instagram account @nardurna here.
NAIDOC Week 2022 “Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!” Theme
This year’s theme is a call for action to bring about “systemic change and keep rallying around our mob, our Elders, our communities.” This includes seeking proper environmental, cultural and heritage protection, Constitutional change, a comprehensive process of truth-telling and continuing to work towards treaties. Here at Yarn, we share and acknowledge First Nations culture, art, history, law and belief systems to help build national reconciliation and an understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC Week isn’t just celebrated within Indigenous communities, but also at schools, local councils, government agencies and workplaces. Hosting a NAIDOC event is an excellent way to engage with your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and community organisations, and it helps our nation's journey to reconciliation. If you are looking to hold an event, make sure that it is staged in a COVID safe manner to protect the most vulnerable in our communities (NAIDOC Committee, 2022).
Torres Strait Islander peoples performing at the National NAIDOC Awards Ceremony at the National Convention Centre in Canberra, July 6, 2019. Courtesy of NAIDOC Facebook, 2022.
Here are some ways to celebrate NAIDOC Week in 2022:
- Listen to Indigenous musicians or watch a movie about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history.
- Study a famous Indigenous Australian.
- Research the Traditional Owners of your area.
- Run an art competition for your school or community.
- Display the National NAIDOC Poster or other Indigenous posters around your classroom or workplace.
- Start your own hall of fame featuring Indigenous role models around your home, classroom or workplace.
- Learn the meanings of local or national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander place names and words.
- Invite local Indigenous Elders to speak or give a Welcome to Country at your school or workplace.
- Invite Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander dancers to perform at your school or workplace.
- Hold a flag raising ceremony at your school or workplace.
- Visit local Indigenous sites of significance or interest.
- Attend an Indigenous arts and crafts workshop.
- Host a community BBQ or luncheon.
- Organise a smoking ceremony.
The national NAIDOC online events calendar is now open! Click here to find NAIDOC events in your area. If you are running a NAIDOC Week event in your local area, register your event here. Once checked by the NAIDOC team, your event will be published on the NAIDOC website. If you are looking for resources to help promote your NAIDOC event, then visit the NAIDOC Week website logo and banner page here (NAIDOC Committee, 2022).
We encourage you to use the #NAIDOC2022, #NAIDOCWeek or #NAIDOC hashtag when talking about NAIDOC Week and promoting your NAIDOC event on social media. Check out the NAIDOC organisation Instagram here and Facebook here.
In celebration of NAIDOC Week 2022, we have partnered with eight talented Indigenous artists to bring you a stunning new range. Each artwork's story is an embodiment of this year's powerful theme. Don’t forget to grab your merch and join us as we come together to recognise and protect First Nations Country, culture and heritage!