NAIDOC Week 2012, 1-8 July
For information about NAIDOC events around the country visit National NAIDOC
NAIDOC on the Peninsula 2012 - Sunday 1 July
NAIDOC on the Peninsula is a free annual event organised by AIATSIS open to the Canberra community and surrounding regions.
Held in early July each year, the one-day event brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples to share, celebrate and acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, lifestyles and achievements.
The event is staged in AIATSIS’ public areas and includes entertainment from local and national Indigenous performers, over 50 market stalls hosted by State and Federal Government departments, Non-Government and Community organisations, Indigenous arts and crafts outlets and a host of free child-related activities and information.
Free children’s activities range from arts and crafts to face painting to amusement rides and jumping castles.
This year's NAIDOC on the Peninsula features performances by double ARIA winner Dan Sultan, Pop/Folk/Love duo Microwave Jenny and Indigenous Hip- Hop Trio The Last Kinection (Band of the Year and Single of the Year at the 2011 Deadlys).
Other performers include tradtional dance groups - Zugubal Dance Team (Torres Strait Islander dancers from Badu Island) and the Wiradjuri Echoes (Aboriginal Dancers).
The Day also includes performances from local Indigenous musicians such as Hung Parliament, Johnny Huckle, Hidden Desire, Stick N Move, and The Riverbank Band.
As a sign of the success and significance of our event, the Canberra and District NAIDOC Committee will again incorporate their annual NAIDOC Family Day and Official Opening Ceremony to kick start week long NAIDOC 2012 celebrations across Canberra and the region.
NAIDOC on the Peninsula is proudly organised by AIATSIS’ Executive and Communications Unit and is part of the Institute’s proud role in raising awareness among all Australians, and people of other nations, of the richness and diversity of Australian Indigenous cultures and histories.
The event while hosted and coordinated by AIATSIS aligns itself with the National Museum of Australia’s NAIDOC program of events.
Official Opening ceremony starts at 10.30am while entertainment begins from 11am.
Performance Times (please note these times are subject to change)
10.30am |
Official Speeches Welcome to Country (Aunty Agnes Shea) Torres Strait Islander Greeting – Benny Hodges Jo Chivers, ACT NAIDOC Committee Chairperson Rod Little – Chairperson, ACT Indigenous Elected Body Mr Chris Bourke MLA – Representing ACT Government |
1055 |
Official Flag Raising |
1100 |
Wiradjuri Echoes - Aboriginal Dancers (20mins) |
1120 |
Zuguba Dancers - Torres Strait Islander Dancers (20mins) |
1145 |
Johnny Huckle (20mins) |
1210 |
Hidden Desire (Belinda Whyte and Tyson Jones) (15mins) |
1215 |
Stick N Move (Nathan Carter) (20mins) |
1240 |
Microwave Jenny (30mins) |
1320 |
Dale Huddleston & Riverbank Band (20mins) |
1350 |
Hung Parliament (20mins) |
1420 |
The Last Kinection (30mins) |
1500 |
Dan Sultan (45mins) |
The story of NAIDOC
Since 1940 the National Missionary Council of Australia (NMCA) had been encouraging churches to observe the Sunday before the Australia Day weekend as Aboriginal Sunday. The NMCA took up a suggestion by William Cooper, who, following his successful promotion of a ‘day of mourning’ on Australia Day 1938, had written to the NMCA seeking help in establishing a permanent Aborigines Day.
In 1955 the NMCA changed the date to the first Sunday in July and secured the support of federal and state governments, as a result of which NAIDOC was formed. The establishment of the federal DAA boosted the activities of NAIDOC, which in 1974 became an all-Aboriginal body.
In 1975 NAIDOC extended Aboriginal Day into National Aborigines Week, during which the Aboriginal people’s cultural heritage and contribution t o Australian society are celebrated. Various activities are arranged for each day of the week wherever it is celebrated. In more recent years National Aborigines Weeks have followed particular themes. For instance, t h e 1987 theme was ‘White Australia has a black history’, a timely reminder to non-Aboriginal Australians as they entered the year of the bicentenary of European settlement.
Since 1976 NAIDOC has run as a federal body and in 1989 the word ‘Islander’ was added to the title which became the National Aboriginal and Islander Observance Committee, hence NAIDOC.
Visit the National NAIDOC 
website for more information.
Visit an online collection of NAIDOC posters by clicking here.