NAIDOC Week: 50 Years of Deadly

NAIDOC Week signified when First Nations groups would come and enhance our experiences of the many nations that we were.

A side journey I have been on is digitising and cataloguing my parents’ collection of files, films, slides, books and many other things that help to tell their story. I’ve found gems relating to major events that have been cornerstones for the Aboriginal movement in NSW and nationwide.

When I discover something in their collection that intrigues me, my research brain then goes looking into other archives to help build the story. I was lucky to find footage in the ABC TV archives of mum walking with the Lieutenant-Governor of NSW on National Aboriginal Day, the precursor to today’s NAIDOC Week. We think it is in the late 1950s because of her short hair.

My mum’s collection of paperwork includes many speeches she gave; she always kept printed copies of the ones she was proud of in her files. Within the boxes, I found the speech she made at National Aboriginal Day on 10 July 1964. An article in Dawn magazine described ‘a colourful demonstration’ in Martin Place, Sydney, that ‘contained speeches from prominent persons associated with Aboriginal Welfare, interspersed with Aboriginal Artists performing’.

Joyce Clague (née Mercy) at National Aboriginal Day, 10 July 1964. Courtesy: Clague Collection.

‘I would like to thank NADOC [as it then was], which has done so much to bring attention to the needs of our people.’ She talked about education, housing and many of the issues that are still facing our communities today. ’[Aboriginal people] have suffered great wrongs … our land was taken without compensation … Australia is the only country in the world which does not recognise that its Indigenous people have a right to land ... Aboriginal children in this state have only been taught by trained teachers for about 15 years … There is a need to ensure that we have equal opportunities in the future.’

This extract made me think how lucky we were to have a mother who always wanted to educate and engage with a community that was fair and equal. Her speech is also a fitting reminder about how recently our Indigenous community has been able to access opportunities. That we can celebrate being ‘deadly’ over the last 50 years allows us to reflect on the work our leaders and elders have done to show our excellence in various forms.

NAIDOC in some parts of the country is protest; other times it is a celebration. Mostly it is an opportunity to be with community in a positive way, promoting our excellence and the ongoing resilience our elders have forged. It also allows us to take stock, assess the impact of all that has happened, and move forward with new vigour energised by the week of celebration.

John Paul Janke, a Wuthathi man from eastern Cape York and Murray Island, served for almost a decade on the National NAIDOC Committee, including as Co-Chair. In the interview excerpt below, he reflects on his earliest memories of NAIDOC and why the week remains such an important time to come together, celebrate achievements and recognise the strength, leadership and excellence of First Nations peoples.

Writing as someone in their 50s, fittingly for ‘50 Years of Deadly’, here’s to celebrating more. Happy NAIDOC!

Top image: Nungera Gallery in Maclean, Northern NSW. Courtesy: Clague Collection.