Rather than replacing NAIDOC Week, the Assembly has proposed the public holiday would be held during the annual occasion in a newly-formed petition.
“We have public holidays for horse races, invasions, footy games, wars and the birthday of foreign monarchs, but we don’t have a day to share and celebrate the history and culture of First Peoples,” the petition read.
First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria co-chair and Bangerang and Wiradjuri Elder Aunty Geraldine Atkinson said NAIDOC Week evolved from protests on the status and treatment of First Nations’ people dating back to the 1920s.
She said a public holiday to celebrate First Peoples would be “well placed” in NAIDOC Week.
“Rather than a public holiday that rubs salt into our community’s wounds, a NAIDOC Day public holiday would be inclusive,” she said.
“And would be an opportunity to educate everyone about our history and our culture, and to celebrate our people’s many successes.”
This is the second year the assembly has called for the creation of NAIDOC Day.
Assembly co-chair and Nira illim bulluk man of the Taungurung Nation Marcus Stewart drew parallels to New Zealand’s public holiday which celebrates the signing of the Waitangi Treaty.
“We’re finishing up a great NAIDOC Week of celebrating our culture, our people and our people's incredible contributions to this country,” he said.
“Imagine how deadly it would be to have a NAIDOC Day public holiday in future NAIDOC Weeks to truly mark its significance.”
The petition could be found via https://www.firstpeoplesvic.org/news/naidoc-day-public-holiday/
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