NAIDOC Week is coming up on 8–15 November! This year's theme is 'Always Was, Always Will Be', recognising that First Nations peoples have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. 

It's a time for all Australians to acknowledge and celebrate that Australia's story didn’t begin with documented European contact. It’s about seeing, hearing, and learning the First Nations’ 65,000+ year history of this country, and celebrating the oldest continuing cultures on the planet.

This place of many nations Always Was, Always Will Be Aboriginal land, and sovereignty was never ceded.

You can learn more about the history of NAIDOC Week and this year's theme at naidoc.org.au. We also encourage you to get involved in local and online events happening all over Australia.

Here are a couple of online and local NAIDOC Week events to get you started!

• [NSW] Art exhibition in Bega, open 23 October – 11 November: Spiral Gallery in Bega presents the Always Was, Always Will Be NAIDOC 2020 art exhibition! Details here or email spiralgallerybega@gmail.com.
• [NSW] Art exhibition in Wollongong, open 10 - 16 November: 'Coming Through The Other Side' art exhibition at the Illawarra Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Wollongong, to make a booking call 4228 1585.
• [Online] Artist talk and art workshops, with Saretta Fielding, 10 and 12 November: To celebrate the 2020 NAIDOC Week, Saretta Fielding, a Wonnarua woman from the Upper Hunter Valley, will be hosting artist talks and art workshops to celebrate this year's theme ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’. To book your place and for more info click here.
• [NSW] Author talk: Dhurga Language Dictionary, 11 November: the authors of the 'Dhurga Language Dictionary and Learner's Grammar' will be appearing at Moruya Library to discuss the importance of revitalising our local Dhurga language. Bookings are essential, find out more by clicking here.
• [Online] The Roundhouse Artists Livestreams, 11 November: tune in to the Roundhouse Artist Livestreams featuring Aboriginal artists, as they showcase their powerful new tracks, chat about their approach to music, and what NAIDOC Week means to them. Check out their Facebook page for more info.
• ~SOLD OUT~ [Online] Cultural Safety Training, 12 November: Join this FREE online workshop for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal workers who want to improve the way they interact and work with Aboriginal communities, facilitated by Sigrid Herring (Aboriginal Educator and Trainer). Register here.
• [NSW] NAIDOC Family Fishing Fun Day 13 November: at Corrigans Beach Batehaven from 8:30am-4:30pm. The family-friendly day includes a fishing competition, traditional dancing, a sausage sizzle and much more. For more info call Todd Chatfield on 0421 203 044 or call Greg Curry on 0447 421 319.
• [ACT] Art exhibition in Canberra, open 9 – 29 November: the Canberra Contemporary Art Space presents James Tylor's 'From an untouched landscape' exhibition. Find out more here.
• [Online] Spiritual Bonding between Land and People online art exhibition: Artist Zhou Xiaoping has spent the last 30 years travelling to and from remote Arnhem Land communities, getting to know Aboriginal culture and collaborating with Aboriginal artists to create his Spiritual Bonding series. The audio and visual exhibition is currently available online and can be explored by clicking here.
• [NSW] Art exhibition Kemblawarra, Port Kembla 4 - 6 December: Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation is holding a 2020 Gallery Exhibition for info call 4274 7477 or email coomaditchie@gmail.com
• [NSW] Coomaditchie ‘Keeping culture alive’ exhibition, Wollongong art Gallery, 30 October - 21 March: connecting cultures and transferring cultural knowledge, wisdom, history and stories through art to our younger generation and the wider community. Visit the Wollongong Art Gallery website for more info.

Explore even more online and local NAIDOC Week events by visiting naidoc.org.au.

Aboriginal health, Community, Illawarra Shoalhaven, Southern NSW