Thinking Allowed

Thinking Allowed

NAIDOC Week 2021: 4 – 11 July

During these trying times, I hope you are all staying safe and healthy. It’s a shame we won’t be able to celebrate together at school this week, but I’m excited to see all the different ways SCEGGS will continue to recognise, listen to, learn about, and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practices and traditions. The oldest continuous living culture in the world. Although NAIDOC week occurs during the school holidays, it is not limited to that week, and encouraging conversations to take place throughout the year has the potential to be satisfying.

This years’ NAIDOC theme is “Healing country”.  We speak of this Country like a person, sustaining our lives in every aspect – spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially, and culturally.

Learn more here about Healing Country and what this theme identifies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.


Some of the ways in which you can celebrate NAIDOC week are:

  • Support Indigenous Organisations such as IDKY – check out their merchandise. 100% of profits go to supporting Indigenous children in out of home care.
  • Discover the artist behind the NAIDOC week 2021 poster.
  • Learn more about the Country on which you live and work using the AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia.
  • Watch NITV.  Become familiar with it and what this platform offers.
  • Watch a film such as – Top End Wedding a 2019 Australian romantic comedy film.
  • The Kid LAROI – Learn more about our first Nations artist (who even worked with Justin Bieber!).
  • Listen to songs by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
  • Plan a walking tour or consider the need for cultural awareness when being a tourist – see Marcia Langton’s book Welcome to country (2018). In its pages, author Professor Marcia Langton offers fascinating insights into Indigenous languages and customs, history, native title, art and dance, storytelling, and cultural awareness and etiquette for visitors. There is also a directory of Indigenous tourism experiences, organised by state or territory, covering galleries and festivals, national parks and museums, communities that are open to visitors, as well as tours and performances.

Read more and find out ways in which you can celebrate NAIDOC week in a covid safe way here.

Jola Cumming
 Indigenous Student Co-ordinator