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Cultural Events Calendar
National Apology Day
13 February
On 13 February 2008 The Australian government took the long overdue step of apologising to the stolen generation. The stolen generation refers to the thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their parents and adopted by white families.
Babies, toddlers and youngsters were forcibly removed from their mothers and fathers and sent to missions or adopted by white families. This policy of integrating mixed-race children into white society started in 1910 and only ended in 1969.
Nearly forty years after it ended,newly-elected Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made the formal apology in a parliament address on 13 February 2008.
| Download: | National Apology to Australian's Indigenous Peoples Speech by Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (PDF File - 41k) |
Link: National Apology to the Stolen Generation Video
Link: History of the National Apology
Link: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation
National Close the Gap Day
24 March
24 March is 'National Close the Gap Day'. This day is a way for all Australians to join together and raise awareness of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health crisis and the campaign to close the life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and other Australians.
Link: National Close the Gap Day
National Sorry Day
26 May
National Sorry Day provides all Australians with an opportunity to acknowledge the impact of forcible removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families.
The National Sorry Day Committee was established in 1998 and continues its ongoing commitment to work with members of the Stolen Generations, their families and communities. The Committee also advises and consults with Governments, community organisations, educational facilities and the broader Australian community on continuing to commemorate the day and ensuring the 54 recommendations of the 'Bringing Them Home' report are achieved by 2017.
Link: National Sorry Day Committee
National Reconciliation Week
27 May - 3 June
Reconciliation Week is a time for everyone to join the reconciliation conversation, and to think about turning around the disadvantage experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
National Reconciliation Week began in 1996 to provide a nationwide focus on reconciliation activities. The week acknowledges the events surrounding the 1967 Referendum where 90% of Australians voted in a Referendum to remove clauses in the Australian Constitution that discriminated against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
Many activities will take place in all states and territories throughout schools and universities, various organisations, governments and local communities.
Link: National Reconciliation Week
Mabo Day
3 June
Mabo Day is a particularly significant day for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The day marks the anniversary of the High Court of Australian's judgement in the 1992 Mabo case.
The High Court, in an historical judgement delivered on 3 June 1992, accepted the claim by Eddie Mabo and the other claimants that their people, the Meriam people had occupied the Islands of Mer for hundreds of years before the arrival of the British. The decision overturned a legal fiction that Australia was terra nullius (a land belonging to no-one) at the time of British colonisation.
The late Eddie 'Koiki' Mabo's name is synonymous with native title rights. His story began in 1982 when he and fellow Murray (Mer) Islanders, David Passi, Sam Passi, James Rice and Celuia Salee instituted a claim in the High Court for native title to Mer Island in the Torres Strait.
Mabo, The Native Title Revolution is a Screen Australia Digital Learning website which won the 2008 United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Award.
Coming of the Light
1 July
Torres Strait Islanders living in the islands and mainland Australia come together to honour this anniversary every year on 1 July.
The London Missionary Society set out to convert people of the Southwest Pacific to Christianity from the 1840s.
On the 1 July 1871, Reverend Samuel MacFarlane, a member of the Society anchored at Erub (Darnley Island) in the Torres Strait.
In defiance of tribal law Dabad, a Warrior Clan Elder on Erub welcomed the London Missionary Society. The acceptance of missionaries and Christianity into Torres Strait led to profound changes that affected every aspect of life from that time onwards.
It is recognition of an integral point in time when Christianity was accepted by Torres Strait Islanders. Where there are significant numbers of Torres Strait Islanders a re-enactment of the event depicting the first contact with missionaries is held.
This re-enactment generally depicts the hostile reception displayed by the majority of people in the village that took place on a beach of Erub (Darnley Island).
Activities include church services and a re-enactment of the landing at Kemus on Erub; hymn singing; feasting; and ailan dances strengthen community and family ties.
Link: Torres Strait Islander culture and activities
National Aboriginal Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week
1st week in July
National Aboriginal Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week is a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and an opportunity to recognise the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in various fields.
Events are held across Australia during the week and include a variety of activities involving schools, community organisations and award ceremonies and a NAIDOC ball.
A National NAIDOC Poster competition is open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to showcase their artistic talents and the winning artwork is reproduced on the NAIDOC week poster that is distributed nationally.
The early history of NAIDOC can be traced back to 1920 when Aboriginal rights groups protested against the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. A timeline of the history that covers the period 1920 up to the present is accessible on the NAIDOC website.
Link: National Aboriginal Islander Day Observance Committee
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day
4 August
The Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) is the national non government peak body in Australia representing the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day (NATSICD) is a celebration of our children. Held on 4 August each year,(NATSICD) was first observed by SNAICC in 1988. Each year SNAICC produces and sends out resources to help you celebrate (NATSICD).
Link: SNAICC National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day
International Indigenous Day of Worlds Indigenous Peoples
9 August
The International Day of the World's Indigenous People (9 August) was first proclaimed by the General Assembly in December 1994, to be celebrated every year during the first International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (1995-2004).
In 2004, the Assembly proclaimed a Second International Decade, from 2005-2015, with the theme of 'A Decade for Action and Dignity'.
The focus of this year's International Day will be Indigenous designs: celebrating stories and cultures, crafting our own future. This theme highlights the need for preservation and revitalization of indigenous cultures, including their art and intellectual property.
It can also be used to showcase indigenous artists and cooperatives or businesses who are taking inspiration from indigenous peoples' customs and the indigenous communities who may have participated or benefited from this.
It is also a reminder of the responsibility of individuals as consumers, to understand that there is a story and a personal experience behind every piece of cloth, textile or artwork from an indigenous individual or community.
At UN Headquarters on 9 August, there will be a special event focusing on intellectual property in relation to indigenous designs, as well as best practices for protecting indigenous arts and crafts.
