(with thanks and credit to Evangelisation Brisbane for all date related information cited…
“The following is a list of culturally significant dates that celebrate and recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture. Acknowledging and celebrating these significant dates is important as a way of learning, understanding the history and richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture, engaging and building respectful relationships and promoting reconciliation. This booklet provides a brief overview to significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dates.
Acknowledgement: Cover image, page number background & pages art, based artwork by Sarah Delaney. Thanks to J. Thorley and N. Bristol for artwork and formatting.”
For many First Nations people, 26 January is not a date to celebrate. It’s a day for acknowledging the British invasion of sovereign First Nations lands and respecting the resistance and survival of First Nations Peoples in the face of systematic and ongoing injustice and denial of rights. It is also the day the Aboriginal Tent Embassy was established in 1972. The Embassy was set up by First Nations activists on the lawns opposite Parliament House in Canberra. The Embassy is a hub for land rights activism and advocating for First Nations sovereignty. Source: https://www.commonground.org.au/article/first-nations-dates-significance-2022
On this day in 2008, Kevin Rudd (then Prime Minister) made a formal apology to First Nations people and the Stolen Generations.
The Stolen Generations refers to the First Nations children and young people who were removed from their families by Australian federal and state government agencies and church missions between 1910 and 1970. This was the policy of assimilation.
“We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians. We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.”
KEVIN RUDD Source: https://www.commonground.org.au/article/first-nations-dates-significance-2022
National Close the Gap Day is observed on the third Thursday of March, falling on March 21 this year, and advocates for health equity of Australia’s indigenous people and educating the public about the health issues and barriers to well-being faced by them. Since 2007, National Close the Gap Day brings together Australians from all over the country to advocate for health equity and take meaningful action to create better and more equitable conditions for the indigenous people.
The campaign encourages people and organizations to plan events that draw attention to the health issues of Australia’s indigenous people and to support legislation and programs for the improvement of their conditions. The government’s Closing the Gap strategy is different and launched in 2008. This is a series of policies and health targets in which there has been little progress.
Harmony Day takes place on the 21st of March 2024. The event occurs on this day each year and has done for over 20 years. The day itself marks an important date, as the 21st of March is the International Day for the Elimination of Racist Discrimination.
Harmony Day was first celebrated in Australia in 1999, but its roots go back hundreds of years. In 2017, researchers published evidence in the journal “Nature” that the ancestors of Aboriginal Australians landed there from Southeast Asia about 65,000 years ago. These first settlers were the original indigenous Australians and lived in harmony with the land for centuries.
Then, in 1788, the British Empire reached Australia, landing at Botany Bay to establish a penal colony of exiled prisoners. The British used the Australian land to replicate their own Western civilization, a culture that did not work in harmony with that of the indigenous peoples of Australia and resulted in a mass slaughter of the people who had occupied the land for hundreds of years.
As a result, as the nation grew, Australia (like many countries) was a divided society. In the late 20th century, despite the legislation enshrining equal rights for all, many people still suffered from racist attacks. In 1998, after activists condemned the country for persistently turning a blind eye to its racism, the Australian government commissioned a study into the nature of racism over the last decade. The study highlighted a greater need for people to ‘live in harmony’ and, as a result, Harmony Day was created to encourage everyone to respect each other and appreciate the country’s multicultural background.
ANZAC Day is a National Day of Remembrance to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served in the Gallipoli campaign in World War I. The day also broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders who have served.
It’s difficult to determine the exact number of First Nations people who served in World War I, but it is believed to be more than 1,000. This is because the enlistment process didn’t record a person’s ethnicity, and the Defence Act 1909 banned people from enlisting if they were 'not substantially of European origin or decent'.
Many First Nations people concealed their identity so they could join. Our people served, and our contribution has been significant. Some made the ultimate sacrifice, going to rest in the Dreaming. Others returned home to Country, only to face racism from white Australia.
Importantly, First Nations people have been warriors of our own resistance since 1788.
Source: https://www.commonground.org.au/article/first-nations-dates-significance-2022
National Sorry Day is a day to remember and acknowledge the mistreatment of First Nations people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities - the Stolen Generations.
It’s a day to pay tribute to their remarkable strength and resilience, and to reflect on how we can contribute to the healing process of our communities. Because sorry means you don’t do it again.
Our kids need culture, community and family so we can continue intergenerational storytelling and knowledge sharing.
Source: https://www.commonground.org.au/article/first-nations-dates-significance-2022
National Reconciliation Week commences on the anniversary of the 1967 referendum and ends on Mabo Day. It’s a time for people to reflect on reconciliation in Australia, keeping in mind that the word “reconciliation” is considered problematic by some. One of the reasons is because reconciliation means “the restoration of friendly relations”.
Source: https://www.commonground.org.au/article/first-nations-dates-significance-2022
Every National Reconciliation Week on 29 May, we acknowledge and pay tribute to Bernard Namok Senior on the anniversary of the Torres Strait Islander Flag
On 3 June 1992, the High Court ruled that terra nullius should never have been applied to Australia in the historic Mabo decision. This paved the way for the Native Title Act (1993).
The Mabo decision was named after Eddie Koiki Mabo. He led the challenge alongside Father Dave Passi, Sam Passi, Celuia Mapoo Salee and James Rice. They staunchly advocated for their rights as the Traditional Owners of the island of Mer.
Source: https://www.commonground.org.au/article/first-nations-dates-significance-2022
The Barunga Statement is one of several significant painted documents that Aboriginal people have presented to the Australian Government. Painted during the 1988 Barunga Sport and Cultural Festival, it was the culmination of years of engagement and discussion between Aboriginal groups in the Northern Territory and the Australian Government.
The statement combines Aboriginal symbolism from northern and central Australia and a translation of these into English language text, signalling collaboration and communication across cultures and languages.
The Northern and Central Land Councils presented the Statement to former prime minister Bob Hawke as a declaration of the aspirations of ‘the Indigenous owners and occupiers of Australia’ and a request to the Australian Government and people to ‘recognise our rights’.
Source: The Barunga Statement | AIATSIS
The 'Coming of the Light' is a holiday celebrated annually by Torres Strait Island people on 1 July. The day recognises the point in time when Christianity came to the Torres Strait and the acceptance of Christianity (the Light).
On 1 July 1871, the London Missionary Society sailed into the Torres Strait on a boat named “Surprise” and arrived at Erub Island.
"On the 1st of July, every year, Torres Strait Island people come together to mark the day, feasting, and joining together, providing a theme of reconciliation, long before reconciliation was a thing, to invite other Australians to join in.
It is a shared day for both First Nations People and other Australians, where we, Torres Strait Island people are the host."
Source: Coming of the light | A Celebration of Peace - Community Services (act.gov.au)
National Aborigines Day Observance Committee (NADOC) formed and the first Sunday in July became a day of remembrance and celebration for Aboriginal people and heritage. Between 1940 and 1955, the Sunday before Australia Day was known as National Aborigines Day. From 1955, the day shifted to the first Sunday in July, in order to expand from a day of protest to include celebrations of Indigenous achievements and culture as well.
NAIDOC Week is marked across Australia every year, beginning on the first Sunday in July and finishing on the second Sunday. A celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history and peoples and is one of the most important weeks on the Australian calendar.
The first seeds of what would become NAIDOC Week were planted by Indigenous activists, including William Cooper, Douglas Nicholls and Jack Pattern, who held a day of protest on January 26, 1938, called the Day of Mourning, or the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet.
Between 1940 and 1955, the Sunday before Australia Day was known as National Aborigines Day. From 1955, the day shifted to July, in order to expand from a day of protest to include celebrations of Indigenous achievements and culture as well.
In 1975, the National Aborigines Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) decided that the event should span a full week. From the 1990s, the title of the committee became the National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC). The Committee continues to direct and drive NAIDOC Week.
Each year, a theme is chosen as a focus for that year’s NAIDOC Week. Themes over the years have included “White Australia Has a Black History” (1987), “Bringing Them Home” (1998), “Voice, Treaty, Truth” (2019) and many others.
Every year, on the first Sunday of NAIDOC Week, Catholics come together across Australia to acknowledge and celebrate the gifts of Australia’s First Peoples in the Catholic Church.
Note: The word Aborigine is an outdated term, but is included here for historical accuracy
Source: https://www.indigenous.gov.au/news-and-media/stories/history-naidoc-week
The Aboriginal flag was designed by Luritja and Wambaya man Harold Thomas. It was first flown at Victoria Square in Adelaide on National Aborigines* Day in 1971. The following year it became the official flag for the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra after it was first flown there in 1972.
*This term is now considered outdated and offensive.
Source: https://www.commonground.org.au/article/first-nations-dates-significance-2022
Children’s Day is held annually on 4 August. National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day (Children’s Day) is a time to for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to celebrate the strengths and culture of their children. The day is an opportunity for all Australians to show their support for Aboriginal children, as well as learn about the crucial impact that community, culture and family play in the life of every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child.
Children’s Day is held on 4 August each year and is coordinated by SNAICC. Children’s Day was first observed in 1988. And established against the backdrop of protests led by First Nations people and allies to mark the 200-year anniversary of British invasion.
The date 4 August was historically used to celebrate the birthdays of First Nations children who were taken from their families at a young age without knowing their birthday.
Source: https://www.aboriginalchildrensday.com.au/history-of-childrens-day
The International Day of the World’s Indigenous People on August 9 pays tribute to the indigenous communities of the world.
On 23 December 1994, the United Nations General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples will be held annually on 9 August. The date marks the first day the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations held a meeting in 1982.
According to the United Nations, there are over 476 million Indigenous peoples living in 90 countries across the world, accounting for 6.2% of the global population.
Source: https://www.commonground.org.au/article/first-nations-dates-significance-2022
Indigenous Literacy Day is presented by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Indigenous Literacy Day is a national celebration of culture, stories, language and literacy. This day raises awareness of the disadvantages experienced in remote communities and advocates for more access to literacy resources.
This year will be the 12th Indigenous Literacy Day and national celebration.
Source: https://www.commonground.org.au/article/first-nations-dates-significance-2022
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly during its 61st session at UN Headquarters in New York City on 13 September 2007.
Uluru is sacred to Anangu people. It is central to their Dreaming stories and Law (Tjukurpa). Anangu people lobbied for the return of their ancestral lands for decades.
The Uluru handback took place at the base of Uluru on 26 October 1985. Hundreds of First Nations and non-Indigenous people looked on as the Governor-General passed over the title deeds for Uluru–Kata Tjuta to Anangu people.
The Uluru climb was closed permanently on 26 October 2019, on the 34th anniversary of the handback. Source: https://www.commonground.org.au/article/first-nations-dates-significance-2022