15+ ways to celebrate NAIDOC Week 2022
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Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! This is the theme of NAIDOC Week 2022.
A call for systemic change and a rallying cry for our First Nations communities, from Sunday 3 until Sunday 10 July all Australians are invited to celebrate the many who have shown us that getting up, standing up, and showing up can lead to positive change.
And whether it’s seeking proper environmental, cultural, and heritage protections, Constitutional change, a comprehensive process of truth-telling, working towards treaties, or calling out racism, there’s no denying it needs to be done together.
Here 15+ things to do in Canberra this NAIDOC Week to amplify the voices of First Nations Australians and narrow the gap between aspiration and reality.
Connection
Loved Van Gogh Alive? Meet Connection, a powerful and immersive story of First Peoples art. From Grande Experiences, creators and producers of Van Gogh Alive, the most-visited multi-sensory exhibition in the world, comes the world premiere of a new art experience celebrating the spirit of Indigenous Australia.
Connection: Songlines from Australia’s First Peoples in a spectacular immersive experience, will amplify your First Peoples art experience to new heights (and sounds) blending art and sound with more than 300 images from some 100 artists, projected in a dance of colour and light over a specially created exhibition space.
Visitors are encouraged to sit, stand, wander and explore the space during their allocated time slot as they enjoy the work of Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Albert Namatjira, Tommy Watson, Gabriella Possum, Anna Pitjara, Lin Onus and more.
Until Sunday 9 October | National Museum of Australia in Canberra | nma.gov.au
An Aboriginal Culinary Journey: Designed for Living
What do the National Museum of Australia (NMA), home appliance brand Breville, and First Nations artists have in common?
Marking a culinary journey that spans 65,000 years, they’ve come together to produce a new exhibition that explores historic and contemporary objects in the ‘kitchen’. Focusing on the continuity of cultural mark-making associated with Indigenous food culture by pairing First Nations traditional tools for living alongside modern kitchen objects, it explores the dynamism of an adaptive culture while combining ancient stories with the best of contemporary design.
Until Sunday 18 September | National Museum of Australia in Canberra | nma.gov.au
4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony
The National Indigenous Art Triennial, in its fourth iteration, is the National Gallery’s flagship exhibition of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art–and it’s not to be missed.
Showcasing 18 new bodies of work by 38 First Nations artists from across the country, Ceremony reveals how the practice of ceremony is at the nexus of Country, culture and community.
The expansive exhibition includes works in the National Gallery Sculpture Garden, Fern Garden and on Lake Burley Griffin and brings together a diverse range of artists working in a variety of art forms including sculpture, installation, painting, ceramics, moving image, and photography.
Until 31 July | National Gallery of Australia | nga.gov.au
First Australians Tour
Learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their history, culture and connection to Country in a guided tour of the National Museum of Australia’s largest exhibition gallery. Perfect for the whole family, make sure to book in advance.
Running daily, 3 pm – 4 pm | National Museum of Australia | nma.gov.au
Art Steps by Hayley Millar Baker
Designed for the whole family to roll up their sleeves and get creative, Art Steps are instructions that invite you to create your own work of art.
Looking at how your intuitions and imaginations take you to special places and people while you are dreaming, Gunditjmara and Djabwurrung artist Hayley Millar Baker (whose film Nyctinasty is part of the 4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony) will show you how to engage with these themes through drawing and sharing with family and friends.
Until Sunday 17 July | National Gallery of Australia | nga.gov.au
Tasting Australia with Adam Shipp
Take a tour of the National Museum’s Christina and Trevor Kennedy Garden—a living museum of Indigenous food and medicine plants from across Australia—and enjoy the sights and scents of the season as Adam Shipp (Wiradjuri) of Yurbay Consultancies shares his passion for native plants.
Each tour finishes with tea in the garden and the opportunity to sample some of the flavours found in the Kennedy Garden and around the Canberra region
12.30 pm and 3 pm Thursday 7 and 9.30 am and 12 pm Saturday 9 July | National Museum of Australia | nma.gov.au
NAIDOC Afternoons in the Theatre
Celebrating the leader who have been the champions of change, this NAIDOC Week the National Library is screening stories of those who have lived ‘Get up, Stand up, Show up’. Including the stories of Charles Perkins, Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue and Jimmy Little, the screenings are available thanks to National Film and Sound Archive and their wonderful Black Screen initiative.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that these screenings may contain images and/or audio of deceased persons.
Monday 4 – Friday 8 July | National Library of Australia | nla.gov.au
MEGAFauna afterDARK
Perfect for the whole family, step back in time at the National Botanic Gardens and experience an event like no other with MEGAfuna.
Start your adventure off by exploring the gardens to find the megafuna, ancient plants and more while learning about how they inspired some of Australia’s myths and legends, art and culture or book in and brave the dark to enjoy an immersive cultural event that offers a rare opportunity to explore the Botanic Gardens after the sun has gone down.
With the chance to be enchanted by a local Gurulidj (Bunyip) story and song by a First Nations storyteller, you can complete the experience by adding on a light supper of damper-style roll with pumpkin soup by Pollen café.
If you’re looking for a more hands-on experience, join Ronnie Jordan (a Kalkadoon Pitta Pitta woman) in a bush animal weaving workshop where you can create your own MEGAfauna creature. Inspiring a connection to Aboriginal culture, both children and adults will learn techniques of the age-old art of traditional weaving while Ronnie shares her traditional ecological knowledge.
Saturday 2 July – Sunday 10 July | Australian National Botanic Gardens | parksaustralia.gov.au
Story Time—Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country
Head to the National Portrait Gallery to celebrate NAIDOC week with a reading of Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country written by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing. Perfect for little ones, the reading will be followed by some colourful and playful activities.
Wednesday 6 July, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm | National Portrait Gallery of Australia | portrait.gov.au
NAIDOC Week at Cooleman Court
This NAIDOC Week, head to Cooleman Court as they invite the entire community to celebrate through art. Paying tribute to their traditional name of ’Yukembruk Place’ meaning ‘Place of the Crows’, local artist, Eddie Longford has created a large and beautiful permanent mural at the Northern Entrance of Cooleman Court.
And to further celebrate the new mural, Cooleman Court will be hosting boomerang painting workshops on Monday 4 July and a community artwork initiative on the centre’s ground level, inviting children to come and contribute their own artistic expression which will be displayed and enjoyed by the community.
Monday 4 and Friday 8 July, 10 am – 1 pm | Cooleman Court, level 1 (near Aldi) | coolemancourt.com
Bula’Bula Arts: Miyalk buku-manapanmirri (women gathering together)
Focusing on the weavings made by women artists of Gurrwiliny (the Arafura wetlands) miyalk buku-manapanmirri showcases the beauty of how they use pandanus, sandbark and kurrajong fibres, spun and subtly coloured with natural dyes, to create exuberant and elegant woven pieces.
Including pieces by Daphne Banyawarra, Delilah Lilipiyana, Linda Dalparri, Margaret Djarrbalabal Malibirr, Lisa Gurrulpa, Jordina Milibiwirri, Kathleen Malpamba, Evonne Munuyngu, Julie Djulibing Malibirr, Mary Dhapalany and Mary Rrikili, the exhibition is a tribute to how the women’s fine techniques give rise to a variety of sculptural forms and textures which lay witness to the long and powerful cultural continuity.
Until Saturday 9 July | Beaver Galleries, 81 Denison Street, Deakin | beavergalleries.com.au
Hand to Earth
Head to the National Museum of Australia to join Yolnu songman Daniel Wilfred and Korean jazz vocalist Sunny Kim in an Australian Art Orchestra musical collaboration as they tell stories of the stars, fire, and cooling rain. Performing for one night only, Hand to Earth is a beautiful invitation to share culture and learn from each other.
Sunday 3 July | National Museum of Australia | nma.gov.au
NAIDOC in the North
A celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture through story, song, art dance and ceremony, NAIDOC in the North welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to learn from our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community through workshops, performances, activities and entertainment.
Saturday 2 July – Saturday 9 July | Multiple locations | belcoarts.com.au
AustLang Code-a-thon
Ever wanted to make an important impact to First Australian’s cultural materials? Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are invited to contribute their knowledge to collections from all over Australia and identify them for others by tagging items with the relevant language code from AustLang. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy a cuppa at home while taking some time to look for your cultural material.
Sunday 3 – Sunday 10 July | trove.nla.gov.au
Traditional weaving workshop walk-up
Suitable for ages 12 and up, you can celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as you join Ronnie Jordan (a Kalkadoon Pitta Pitta woman) as she shares her traditional ecological knowledge.
A hands-on experience, the workshop will provide participants with the opportunity to experience and heal through traditional culture.
Saturday 9 July, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm | National Portrait Gallery of Australia | portrait.gov.au
Life Source
A collection of works that speak of culture and Country as the foundations of life, Life Source is an exhibition created by Leah Brideson that focuses on the rivers in her Country, Kamilaroi, and the land she lives on—Ngunnawal.
Representing her own healing journey, Leah consolidates old ideas and explores new designs through a visual conversation, consistent with her feelings and visions of culture and Country. Representing the physical to spiritual, illustrating diverse elements of culture and Country, and illuminating the spiritual connection through colour, movement and story, it’s a great opportunity to see the work of a local artist.
Friday 8 July – Sunday 21 August | Generator Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre | belcoarts.com
Colonisation Exhbition
Jennifer Kemarre Martiniello is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist of Aboriginal (Southern Arrernte), Chinese and Anglo-Celtic descent and her latest exhibition is here to challenge dominant socio-culture taboos. Breaking silences around Colonisation by documenting her cancer journey—taboos people shy away from talking about—she aims to start conversations about both.
Friday 8 July – Sunday 21 August | The Window, Belconnen Arts Centre| belcoarts.com
The 10th Annual NAIDOC Community Art Exhibition Launch
A celebration of the history, culture and achievements of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, this exhibition showcases more than 30 original works from detainees incarcerated in the Alexander Machonochie Centre. Allowing them to develop their artistic skills and talents while assisting in rehabilitation, all works are available to purchase with proceeds deposited into the detainees’ trust accounts—providing them with funds on their release assisting in their successful reintegration into the community.
63 Boolimba Cres, Narrabundah | communityservices1.org
Support local Indigenous businesses
Looking to support Indigenous Australians with an entrepreneurial streak, or ensure your dollars help maintain Indigenous jobs?
Here’s our list of Indigenous businesses which do a range of remarkable things right here in Canberra—from furniture design to homewares, to ICT supply, to ethical Indigenous art and “on country” designs for school uniforms.
Even if you just want to learn more about Indigenous creatives or corporations which are operating locally, it’s a great way to promote responsible, respectful, and honest conversations about reconciliation.
