This year’s NAIDOC theme is ‘Fifty Years of Deadly.’ The milestone recognises two significant developments five decades ago: In 1974, the NAIDOC committee was composed entirely of Aboriginal members for the first time, and the following year, the event was expanded from a day to a full week, from the first to second Sunday in July.
ACHRE member and NAIDOC Committee Co-Chair Professor Lynette Riley said that while this year’s theme celebrates these important moments, the history of NAIDOC stretches back much further. It began as a protest movement to draw attention to the oppressive laws and multiple injustices imposed on First Nations people.
To celebrate NAIDOC 2026, and as a partnership between CHRE-ACHRE-AIATSIS, a special webinar was convened from Mparntwe (Alice Springs). Special thanks to Jennifer Nixon, AIATSIS Director Mparntwe, Central Australia, for hosting the event.
“With laughter and poignancy, warmth and worry, insightful speakers Raymond Walters Penangke and Que Nakamarra Kenny, together with NAIDOC Committee co-chairs Steven Satour and Lynette Riley, engaged in a significant yarning/learning together that drew an audience from local, national and international listeners”, remarked ACHRE President Lynda Blanchard.