14 Ways to Celebrate NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC Week will be held across the country from 5-12 July. For 50 years, NAIDOC Week has celebrated the voices of First Nations communities — carrying stories of survival, strength and pride.

At Red Room Poetry, we celebrate the work of deadly poets, emerging and established, custodians, language holders, and cultural caretakers through our programs, and we encourage you to do the same. In celebration of the 2026 NAIDOC theme “50 Years of Deadly,” we are sharing 14 ways you can take part this NAIDOC Week and beyond.

1. Learn whose Country you are on. Who are the traditional custodians, what is the language name and history of the place? Head to AIATSIS or your local council to find out more.
2. Head to a NAIDOC event in your local community.
3. Read First Nations poetry from our archive.
4. Read a poem by a First Nations student, reflect on the words of inspiring young mob.
5. Learn about the 2026 NAIDOC theme. “50 Years of Deadly” is all about looking back “at the stories, the marches, the languages, the art, the leadership” (NAIDOC, 2026). Thinking about this year’s theme, research the history of NAIDOC week — you might choose a specific historical event or story to get started.
6. Read Red Room Poetry’s Truth and Reconciliation Pledge. Then, write your own.
7. Read Kirli Saunders’ tips on working respectfully with your local Aboriginal communities (p.23).
8. Explore the stories, histories, and healing knowledge held by Country and community in this poetic learning activity from our new Poem Forest resource.
9. Discover the power of language to carry Country’s voice and spirit in the poetic learning activity, The Language of Country, from our new Poem Forest resource.
10. Listen to Country and connect to our more-than-human kin by Listening to Whales or heading to a headland near you to watch their migration.
11. Sign up for a Shifting Ground workshop and become empowered to think, talk and act on issues of culture and race.
12. Check out our 2023 NAIDOC resource which contains information on NAIDOC and loads of relevant poetry and writing prompts for the classroom. There is also the Australians Together resource for even more classroom activities.
13. Make a donation to support our Poetry in First Languages Baraya Barray - Whale Song program, which connects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids with their Traditional languages through poetry.
14. NAIDOC Week is more than just a week, write a list of 5 ways you can celebrate and support First Nations communities.