NAIDOC Week 2022: Get up, stand up, show up

NAIDOC Week is a celebration and opportunity to amplify and support the voices of the many nations and communities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the country, and to acknowledge that Australia is home to the oldest living First Nations cultures in the world.

As part of our NAIDOC celebrations this year, Mable took some time to pause and reflect on the powerful theme of NAIDOC Week this year, “Get up! Stand up! Show up!”

The theme is in honour of all people who have championed equality, human rights and have driven and led change for First Nations peoples over many generations and to reflect upon how far we have come. 

But there is still a long journey ahead. 

Get up! Stand up! Show up! is also an ongoing call to action for all people, asking them to seek out and engage in genuine acts of support and commitment to continue to secure institutional, structural, collaborative, inclusive and cooperative change and reforms.

As part of this ongoing call to action during this year’s NAIDOC celebrations and beyond, Mable was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to spend some time with Raymond ‘Bubbly’ Weatherall, a Gomeroi man, land defender and social justice advocate, who provided such a personalised, educational, engaging and informative session on First Nations culture, history, events and so much more.

During our time together in the session, we enjoyed a First Nations-inspired lunch whilst Bubbly skillfully guided both Mable, as an organisation, as well as each person individually, to uncover and understand how we can all come together in support, through authentic and powerful actions, in collaboration with First Nations peoples, to take part in the movement forward of Reconciliation.

Our session was a mixture of lighthearted stories, laughter and joy in uncovering a better understanding of the world’s oldest living cultures and peoples. There was also sadness and silent reflection as we discussed and recounted some of the past 234 years of tragedies, segregation, intergenerational trauma and losses that First Nations peoples have experienced previously, and continue to do so today.

At Mable, we truly believe in our values:

• All about people
• Challenge openly
• Better together
• Do the right thing, always
• Create impact

We are grateful to Bubbly for hosting this session for us, providing the opportunity for open dialogue, creating a supportive space for education and historical reflection and guiding us in bettering our understanding and actions. In doing so, we can all continue our mission to move forth together and create a positive and inclusive society where everyone belongs.

Written by Nicole White, proud First Nations woman and NSW Community Engagement Manager at Mable.