How You Can Be Celebrating NAIDOC Week—Right Now And Beyond

Emma Garlett is a First Nations leader who is a Director at Garlett Group, a boutique sustainability and communications firm which helps businesses, government and not-for-profits engage and work with Indigenous people and communities effectively. She holds and has held roles in the private sector, minerals industry, legal services and academia. Previously, Emma practised as a solicitor at a top-tier law firm.

This year we celebrate NAIDOC week from Sunday 7 July to Sunday 14 July. It is a week of recognition and empowerment, and opportunity to share the rich cultural tapestry of Australia’s First Nations peoples with the whole of Australia. 

NAIDOC is about recognising the history that brought us here and celebrating the achievements of First Nations people including Elders, community leaders, and those in industry, government, politics, and academia. It takes a collective effort with many people working together to achieve outcomes. 

The theme for NAIDOC week this year is, Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud. It's a call for unity and solidarity for all Australians to keep working towards equality and reconciliation. More importantly, is a reminder to keep the fire in our belly, to stay strong, stand tall and be loud—speak up, take action and make changes. It is not a time to stay silent. It is a time to continue to amplify the voices of First Nations peoples. 

Fire is the symbol of passion and life. It is a gathering place where First Nations people have gathered to share the wisdom of generations, and to celebrate the complexities of their various cultures through song, dance, and community. The theme is a reminder to commit to acknowledging and preserving Aboriginal culture. For corporations, this may mean committing to your Reconciliation Action Plan or for those who don't have one—creating one. It could also mean ensuring all your staff complete Cultural Awareness Training, or it may mean changing the systems and processes in your organisation to make them inclusive. 

Resilience, unity and pride are the focus of this year’s NAIDOC celebrations. These are words that mean so much to all First Nations people who have had to struggle with many setbacks. 

What does this year’s NAIDOC theme mean to me? The last twelve months have been extremely difficult for First Nations people, the failed referendum on the Voice to Parliament being a significant part. For me, it was devastating but it is a reminder that we do have many allies, supporters and people working with us for a better future. And to those people and organisations who supported us, I say thank you. 

Unity has always been a pillar of the community, and I continue to work alongside other First Nations people and allies to advocate for the empowerment of First Nations people.

For me, NAIDOC is also about pride in myself and pride in my culture and heritage. It is empowering to see that First Nations peoples culture is recognised nationwide after many years of attempted cultural assimilation and oppression. I am proud of all First Nations people who are challenging the status quo and pushing the boundaries in all fields. 

Keep the Fire Burning means to maintain the momentum, to keep pushing and keep celebrating. I want to extend this message to emerging First Nations leaders, so they can recognise that their culture and heritage should still be fought for, in respect to their Elders and in service to their own future generations.

For all Australian people, I want us to celebrate together not just for NAIDOC week, but for every day of the year. We will be resilient in our struggles together, unified in our cause for equity and proud of the progress we have made and are yet to make.