First Nations Telegraph

2023 National NAIDOC Week Theme: For Our Elders

[supplied by NIAA]

Bindal Elder Professor Gracelyn Smallwood. Image: supplied

The National NAIDOC Committee is excited to announce that the 2023 National
NAIDOC Week theme is For Our Elders.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders are a fundamental part of our communities.
Our Elders are our wisdom keepers. They have witnessed the many changes, so
dramatically incurred in their lifetime. They are the vital bridge between the modern
world and Aboriginal culture. They are the leaders of our communities. There is no time
more urgent to sit down and listen to our Elders than now.

National NAIDOC Committee Co-Chair, Steven Satour says, “The Elders are the ones
that hold on to the culture and the lore, they are the most important aspect of healing
our people. They have the enormous task of maintaining and passing on traditional
knowledge, values and customary practices, while helping us find balance as we navigate between two very different worlds”.

“They have laid the foundations for us to be successful across multiple sectors like health, education, the arts, politics and everything in between. The inspiration they spark in us as Anangu (Aboriginal) people allows us to dream of futures that are bigger, brighter and blacker and that’s what we are celebrating this NAIDOC Week,” said Mr Satour.

NAIDOC is celebrated by people from all walks of life, Indigenous and non-Indigenous.
The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of culturally rich activities and
to support and amplify the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The National NAIDOC Committee is also pleased to announce that the National NAIDOC Week Poster Competition is now open. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists aged 16 years or older are invited to submit artwork that reflects the 2023 theme: For Our Elders. The winning artist will receive a $10,000 cash prize (tax free) and their artwork will be used as the official 2023 National NAIDOC Week Poster. Additionally, they will receive a ticket for themselves and one guest to the National NAIDOC Awards ceremony, which will be held in Meanjin, Brisbane on Saturday, 1 July 2023. The Poster Competition closes on Monday 6 February 2023 at 8:00pm (AEDT).

Each year NAIDOC Week grows in stature as do the depth of celebrations at the community, state and national level.

NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to come together to celebrate the
rich history, diverse cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples as the oldest continuing cultures on the planet.

National NAIDOC Week will celebrated from Sunday 2 July – Sunday 9 July 2023.

Visit www.naidoc.org.au for more information and resources to get your organisation,
school, or community involved.