The Next Generation: Strength Vision & Legacy

NAIDOC Week is an annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. This important week honours those who are fighting for their Communities, pays tribute to our history, and celebrates the strengths of First Nations peoples.

“The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors.” says The National NAIDOC Committee.

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This year is the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC Week, an incredible milestone in a tradition of advocacy and platforming proud First Nations voices. 

NAIDOC was established as a fight for justice, and has grown to a celebration of the incredible strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across this continent. NAIDOC is more than a week of recognition, it honours the legacy of our Old People, celebrates our survival and strength, and pays respects to our cultures that keep us strong today and forever into the future. 

This year is a special celebration of the next generation. At the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF), we understand that the next generation are the future storytellers, language holders, advocates and custodians of Country. 

The NAIDOC Week Poster winner is Jeremy Morgan Worrall with his incredible artwork titled Ancestral Lines. 

“When I look back at my mob it helps me see towards the future, it gives me hope and strength knowing what my mob have survived through and accomplished amid adversity.” says Jeremy

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Strength of our children, vision of our Communities, legacy of our Ancestors

"When I first heard about this theme, it made me think of my family back home and how every NAIDOC Week is celebrated with Blak Excellence," says ILF's Publishing Projects Editor, Cindy Manfong.

This year’s theme is complex and can be interpreted in many different ways. Foundational to being an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person is honouring the legacy of those who have come before, promoting and advocating for the vision of your Community and Elders, and supporting the strength of the next generation. Reflecting on this year's theme, Cindy considers her family back hom in Katherine, Northern Territory. 

"Growing up in a big Aboriginal family from both my mum and dad’s side, we were always taught to respect everyone around us, especially our Elders. 

My family loves giving back to the Community, so as I got older, it was already embedded that helping the younger generation is something I have always wanted to be a part of."

When considering what she is passing on to the next generation, Cindy is proud to have shown the young ones in her Community that you can move to the big city if that's what they want. 

"I want the little ones to look to me and think - 'if Cindy can live wherever she wants - so can I.'" 

"I want to encourage the younger ones to try it at least once because you never know what path you’ll end up on," says Cindy.

This year's theme also celebrates Vision and Legacy. 

For Cindy, "My vision is for the younger generation to see themselves reflected in those around them, and to pass on their knowledge. And for legacy, most of us want to leave a legacy but before we even think about our own, we need to always think about the legacy our Old People left for us to keep following their footsteps."

For ILF CEO Ben Bowen, this year's theme is all about connection. 

“Sometimes we can be tricked into thinking of time and generations as a linear progression when in reality it is far more complicated.” says Ben.

“To me, this year's theme relates directly to Aboriginal world views of interconnectedness. Focusing on the next generation is not just about the future but it is our past, our present and our collective future aspirations,” says Ben.

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“Here at the ILF we have the privilege to be able to invest with the next generations and see the incredible outcomes achieved when young people are given opportunities and support. This NAIDOC Week, we call for you to be part of the story in supporting the aspirations of Indigenous literacy,” says Ben. 

For Publishing Coordinator, Nea, this year’s theme honours those who have come before her. 

Nea says “When I think of this year's NAIDOC theme, I think of my family. I think of the strength of my Nanna leaving her people to arrive somewhere foreign. I think of the vision my Mum had for her life, and how it shifted — as life always does — but she always kept going.”

“I think of the legacy I can leave for those who will come after me, built on the strength and vision of those who formed me,” says Nea

For ILF’s Talent Pathways Manager, Darren, this year’s theme means a lot. 

"The pillars upon which the Next Generation can stand is the Strength of their conviction coupled with a clear Vision for their future, from which their (and our collective) Legacy can endure,” says Darren.

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Incorporating NAIDOC into Education 

ILF Ambassador and proud Yankunytjatjara, Kokatha and Wirangu woman Shelley Ware has been a classroom specialist reading and art teacher for 26 years.

In her in-depth NAIDOC Teacher Resource, Ware provides guidance, activities, reading, listening and watching recommendations, and much more, for children from early-childhood all the way to years 9 and 10.

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This SBS Learn teacher resource provides educators with a range of activities for primary and secondary students. Celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, perspectives, histories and stories in this in-depth guide. Activities are aligned with the Australian Curriculum and free to print and download for all educators.

Learn more here: NAIDOC Teacher Resource by Shelley Ware.

To learn more about NAIDOC Week, head to naidoc.org.au

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