NAIDOC Week in Sydney

The Museums of History NSW has unveiled a trio of free and thought-provoking exhibitions by First Nations people, and they’re all on now. The exhibitions are being held across the different galleries of the small-but-jam-packed Museum of Sydney. Delve into the story of Australia’s foundation as told from First Nations' perspectives and each artist's connection to place.

Honouring this year's theme, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in Circular Quay is inviting everyone to engage with a free program of lunchtime film screenings, in-gallery talks, tours and digital experiences. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community are also invited to the Elders and Community Lounge, a dedicated space offering light refreshments, hands on art-making and space to have a yarn. In the highlight of the MCA’s program, artist Archie Moore (recent recipient of the prestigious Golden Lion Award at this year's 60th Venice Biennale) is joining a panel discussion on Saturday, July 13, also featuring respected artists Lucy Simpson, and Marilyn Russell. (Bookings essential!) All the events are free, and you can find out more over here.

Rapper, producer and host Nooky is teaming up with popular restaurant Butter for a special NAIDOC collab that's running all month (Nooky's tagged it "NAIDOC Month"). The collaboration kicks off on Sunday, July 7 with a listening party for 3%’s upcoming record, Kill the Dead (from 2.30pm). The album has already been referred to by the Sydney Morning Herald “as one of this year's best”. Nooky’s Box Set will feature the In Ya Ole Fried Chicken Burger, The 2 LUBLY, and a choice of drink (plus all purchasers will receive a signed poster and presale download for the 3% album). A couple of bucks from each meal purchased will go to First Nations Futures.

If you want to take a really special walk, Blue Mountains hub Scenic World is now offering Buunyal tours, where you can explore Gundungurra Country with an Indigenous guide who will share their heritage and provide everyone – from kids to adults – with a deeper, more meaningful connection with this beautiful part of the world.

This NAIDOC Week, head to Indigenous restaurant Midden by Mark Olive, located at Sydney's iconic Opera House. Enjoy a delicious meal spotlighting native produce with the Harbour Bridge as a backdrop. From damper infused with herbs and eucalyptus whipped butter to smoked blue gum barramundi with lemon myrtle chilli, and a bush pavlova with seasonal fruits and roasted wattleseed cream, the menu at Midden by Mark Olive reads like a love letter to Australia.

Town Hall is putting on a big show for NAIDOC Week on Wednesday, July 10. The day starts at 11am with a smoking ceremony, and continues on with heaps of different dancers and clans, plus the Gadigal markets. For the evening session, which you'll need to book for (don't worry, it's still free), you'll jam out to every genre from country to hip hop, with rapper Barkaa headlining the lot. 

Once you start investigating Aboriginal art, you'll realise dot paintings and bark paintings are just the very tip of the iceberg. There is plenty of beautiful, meaningful and diverse Indigenous art to see around Sydney – here are just some spots to explore.

Aboriginal Australia has a rich culture that’s survived more than 60,000 years. Aboriginal people have survived catastrophic changes to their cultures and ways of life brought about by Europeans since 1788, and there’s a lot that visitors can learn from the oldest living culture in the world. Really get to know the city of Sydney through the connection to land that its First Nations peoples have and continue to uphold through these Sydney tours.

Western Sydney has welcomed a new 11km walking track, with spectacular views and audio-enhanced artwork from Aboriginal artists. The new walk winds its way through the southern part of Western Sydney Parklands, an area that's eight times the size of Centennial Park. To celebrate and honour the Dharug Aboriginal culture, six trees along the walk have been transformed with Aboriginal artworks that represent Dharug seasons – with audio experiences that bring the artwork to life and share educational insights into the Dharug language.

It doesn't matter whether you're two or 92, the craft and storytelling activities at Hornsby Library are a comforting way to engage with Indigenous culture. Wiradjuri film director Brenda Matthews will be screening her film 'The Last Daughter', there will be dreamtime stories aplenty, and craft includes rock-painting workshops led by Wiradjuri artist Peta-Joy.

Marrugeku – Australia’s genre-defying Indigenous intercultural dance theatre company – is bringing their award winning show Cut the Sky to Carriageworks for a very special six show series this month. Set in the north of Western Australia, Cut the Sky examines the impact of climate change on First Nations communities through seventy minutes of theatrical dance, and has been described as ‘a raw, thought-provoking, aspirational production.'

Soundtracked by moving spoken word performances and music by singer-songwriter Ngaiire and Canadian artist Tanya Tagaq, Cut the Sky has been cited by Carriageworks CEO, Fergus Linehan as “a shining example” of “groundbreaking works that challenge and inspire”.

You can catch the show at 7.30pm at Carriageworks on Thursday, July 4; Friday, July 5; Saturday, July 6; Thursday July 11 and Friday, July 12; or at a 2pm matinee performance on Saturday, July 13. Learn more and grab tickets over here.

On Wednesday, July 10, Marrickville PCYC is hosting a big NAIDOC family fun day jam packed with cultural performances and creative activities. There will be dances from Burrundi Theatre for Performing Arts and Kinchela Boys Home, crafts, games, workshops and opportunities to connect with local Indigenous families, businesses and leaders.

Created by Waanyi artist Judy Watson and commissioned by the City of Sydney, this colossal 6.4-metre-tall crescent is called Bara, meaning 'shell hook' in Gadigal language, and is a tribute to the ancient living culture that called this part of Sydney home for thousands of years, as well as recognising the destructiveness of colonial settlement. The idea for the location of the sculpture was that it could offer a place of quiet contemplation for today's Sydneysiders in search of a moment of calm in the heart of an frenetic city.  

Eveleigh’s Carriageworks is a venue that’s committed to platforming the voices and creativity of First Nations peoples, with their multidisciplinary program featuring a range of First Nations art, dance, theatre, music and film throughout the year.

One of their most recent installations features a short film that’s been described as “intimate journey into the life of [a] Garrwa woman” – following Shirley Simon as she contends with the devastating impact of climate change on Country. Displaced from her home on Garrwa land (in the Northern Territory) by global climate shifts, Shirley explores the potential impact that solar power could have on her and her community – taking refuge in a nearby town in the pursuit of harnessing solar energy to help her and her family return to their home.

Alongside screenings of this short film, the Power to Country exhibition will also feature two original illustrations by Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara, Warumungu and Warlmanpa designer, Oumoula McKenzie. Power to Country will be exhibited at Carriageworks until July 21, and admission is free. For a deepdive into the work, come along on Saturday, July 6 at 12pm (you can pop into the markets while you’re there), to catch a free public talk with filmmaker Genevieve Grieves, and Ngardara Cooperative Director, Scott McDinny.

Learn more over here.

Issues of race-related injustices and institutionalised racism are ongoing in modern Australia, so it's important that all Australians take the time to learn about our country’s fractured history, educate ourselves about the ongoing legacy of colonialism, and together, take big steps forward towards real change. In case you feel like you want to help direct this change, we’ve gathered together a list of some of the charities and organisations supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and PoC voices in Sydney, as well as around Australia.