1938 NAIDOC Trail blazers

On January 26 1938, while many Australians celebrated the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the landing of the First Fleet, a group of trail blazing Aboriginal men and women gathered at Australia Hall in Sydney. They had come together to continue a struggle that had begun 150 years previously. Two key advocacy groups the Australian Aborigines League and the Aborigines Progressive Association joined forces and marched through the streets of Sydney, this would be the first major civil rights gathering in the world for Aboriginal people, it was known as the ‘Day of Mourning'. They presented Prime Minister Lyons with a proposed national policy for Aboriginal people. Sadly they did not receive the response they anticipated. Determined not to let go though they agreed that this moment should be a regular event.

Since that day the event has grown to a week of celebration. A national event recognised globally as NAIDOC. The courage and determination of those women and men cannot be underestimated. Such leadership! They created a platform for speaking a vision and purpose for Aboriginal people beyond what had been prescribed by the paternalistic authorities of the day. 1938 was a call to action - they declared that ‘Aboriginal lives matter’, and NAIDOC celebrations today are more important than ever, it’s a chance to bring the circle together and bring the country together. Just as the activities of 1938 was a call to action the same is true today. The origin of NAIDOC were a protest for human rights...Aboriginal people weren’t classified as citizens were restricted to mission and reserves, (lockdown) but with the abhorrent layers of abuse and neglect to levels that most people in this country could not imagine.

Today NAIDOC describes what most of us are striving for right now, to be heard, our cultural understood, justice, for healing—some of us, for survival and for the rest of Australia to join in and accept our countries cultural history. When I reflect on activities of the 1938 trail blazers I think of that group pushing the envelop, placing themselves in danger, acting beyond self-interest and driven by the pain of injustice held in their hearts, but always keeping the mind still, steady, and clear and focussed on the pursuit for equal rights.

This years theme is ‘Heal country’, and is encouraging all us to seek greater protection of our lands water and sacred sights and an opportunity for all to engage with the longest surviving culture in the world. This can be done via films, documentaries (by First Nations directors), which is great for the creative industry. There are festivals (covid permitting), lots of music, an opportunity to learn about culture, Aboriginal world views and language. An offer for all Australians to engage, acknowledge and celebrate with the traditional custodians of the land - on which we all live....

The march on Australia Hall in 1938 was a watershed moment because of the words and actions of those woman and men. Whilst now the approach has changed, NAIDOC continues on and offer more and more learning opportunities to a broader spectrum of individuals which will ultimately lead to more understanding and hopefully in time respectful and reciprocal relationships. However to reach that point we must continue to dialogue and engage in activities that cultivates healthy connections for the future and as a connected nation 'build it better'....

Enjoy NAIDOC and as we walk through the week, reflect on the actions of the brave 1938 trailblazers.......I feel your hearts beating in my chest.