From Sunday, July 2nd to Sunday, July 9th, Australia will celebrate the history, cultures, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through NAIDOC Week.
This year’s NAIDOC Week theme is For Our Elders.
“Across every generation, our Elders have played, and continue to play, an important role and hold a prominent place in our communities and families,” NAIDOC Week Australia wrote in reflection on the chosen theme.
“They are cultural knowledge holders, trailblazers, nurturers, advocates, teachers, survivors, leaders, hard workers, and our love ones.”
WATCH NOW: Baker Boy performs Playschool introduction for NAIDOC Week. Article continues after video.
“They guide our generations and pave the way for us to take the paths we can take today. Guidance, not only through generations of advocacy and activism but in everyday life and how to place ourselves in the world.”
In celebration of NAIDOC Week in 2023, the SBS NITV and Netlifx have pulled together a huge programming lineup, along with extensive multiplatform and multilingual coverage.
Here’s what we will be watching…
National NAIDOC Week Awards
Returning to NITV for its 11th year, the National NAIDOC Week Awards will air live on the network (and simultaneously on ABC) on Saturday, July 1st at 7:30 pm.
Mark Coles Smith and Casey Donovan are set to host the awards ceremony.
Living Black: The Icons
Airing nightly at 5 pm, a selection of archival Living Black episodes will be airing, including conversations with the likes of Archie Roach, Patrick Dodson, Ernie Dingo, Wilma Reading, Pat Anderson, Linda Burney, Ken Wyatt, and an episode titled ‘Strong Women.’
For those unawares, Living Black is Australia’s premier Indigenous current affairs program and provides timely, intelligent, and comprehensive coverage of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
Going Places with Ernie Dingo
Premiering on Saturday, July 8th at 7:30 pm, join beloved Aussie icon Ernie Dingo for a new season of unique travel adventures.
Ernie will be joined by several familiar faces including Aaron Fa’Aoso, Narelda Jacobs OAM, Rae Johnston, and Bianca Hunt as he ventures across the country from Broken Hill to Fitzroy Crossing to Tasmania’s Bay of Fires.
Elder in Residence Oration
On Sunday, July 9th, the SBS will be broadcasting the first episode of SBS Elder in Residence Oration, presented by Widjabul Wia-bal woman from the Bundjalung Nation, Rhoda Roberts AO.
Rhoda is a revered and celebrated pioneer in the arts and creative sector and an eminent community and industry leader. Throughout her expansive career, she has championed the power of connection through cultural expression, and through her work helps all Australians to celebrate the richness of First Nation cultures.
The Last Daughter
Streaming now on Netflix, The Last Daughter is a feature documentary that follows Brenda – a First Nations woman who was forcibly removed from her biological family and given to a loving white foster family.
However, after being taken suddenly away and returned back to her Aboriginal family, Brenda struggles to reconcile the two halves of her identity and the trauma of her past.
The documentary has been critically acclaimed and is a must watch this NAIDOC Week.
In addition to more than 37 new titles centering around the Indigenous Australian perspective, Netflix has also launched a ‘First Nations Forever’ page that lists all of the content in one place.
“Celebrate Australia’s Indigenous culture with this collection,” Netflix writes on the page.
For more information about NAIDOC Week, how you can get involved and events near you please click here.
