Additions 8 July 2025: LOCAL Politics in the Pub on Monday 21 July and exhibition of Jack Green’s Paintings at Museum of Australian Democracy.
Addition 9 July 2025: Deadly Dialogues: Bringing Them Home Oration with Kutcha Edwards at the National Library on Wednesday 6 August.
Our July newsletter is early to provide notice of all the things happening in Canberra around NAIDOC week (6-13 July), including performances, talks, tours, school holiday activities and exhibitions, with events added since our last newsletter.
Website back: We restored our website (https://antaract.org.au/) in mid-June, and fortunately did not lose anything other than some comments. Apologies for any inconvenience. We have now set up a system of multiple backups!
ANTaR ACT Organising Group
ANTaR ACT will have stalls at two NAIDOC events – the Next Generation NAIDOC event at Boomanulla Oval on Thursday 10 July and NAIDOC in the North at Belco Arts Centre on Saturday 12 July. We’ll be selling books and items from First Nations artists and authors and also have information about issues and our campaigns.
The next meeting of the ANTaR ACT organising group will be at 6pm on Monday 14 July, on Zoom, as we will meet online over winter. If you would like to join us and be involved in our ongoing advocacy and actions, please RSVP to: info@antaract.org.au.
Four ANTaR ACT members joined members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the Legislative Assembly public gallery on 26 June when Thomas Emerson introduced his Private Member’s Bill Public Sector (Closing the Gap) Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. This bill seeks to amend the Public Sector Management Act 1994 and the Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Act 2004 in line with recommendations made by the Productivity Commission in February 2024.
“Closing the gap is everyone’s job,” Mr Emerson said. ”This bill will make it every public servant’s responsibility to implement the principles laid out in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. It will also require every ACT Government agency to report annually on the concrete steps they’ve taken to deliver on the Closing the Gap commitments.”
For more information: https://www.thomasemerson.com/250626mr.
Events coming up
Friday Art Talks: Artist Talk with Karla Dickens
Friday 4 July, 12-1pm, National Gallery of Australia (Gallery 6, level 1)
Join cross-cultural Wiradjuri, Irish and German artist Karla Dickens in conversation with Adam Ford, Nyoongar (Menang/Goreng) people, Associate Curator, First Nations Art, in Ever Present: First Peoples Art of Australia. The talk will focus on Dickens’ installation The nips are getting bigger 2024. In this talk, Karla will reflect on the histories that she has brought together in this work, including the story of Bungaree, an Aboriginal man from Broken Bay who was hired by colonists to circumnavigate the continent but was paid for his services in alcohol.
For more information about the talk (free, no bookings required but capacity is limited), see: https://nga.gov.au/events/artist-talk-with-karla-dickens/.
For more information about the ongoing exhibition, see: https://nga.gov.au/exhibitions/ever-present/.
Ngunawal Language Workshop
Sunday 6 July, 10am-12noon, venue to be announced
Through his company Thunderstone, Ngunawal Traditional Custodian Tyronne Bell runs workshops so Canberrans can learn about Ngunawal language and country. The full list of upcoming public workshops and tours is available at: https://www.thunderstone.net.au/book-online.
At the language workshop, learn an Acknowledgement of Country in Ngunawal language – the language of the traditional inhabitants of the ACT and surrounds. At the end of the session we hope you will feel confident to deliver the Acknowledgement of Country in Ngunawal language on Ngunawal Country.
For more information and bookings: www.thunderstone.net.au/service-page/language-workshop-2-6-july-10am-12pm.
First Nations Experiences of Democracy Tour
Daily, Sunday 6 to Sunday 13 July, 11am-12noon, Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
On this tour you will hear stories of how First Nations Australians have created change. Learn about the Wiradjuri elders who travelled 150km to attend the opening of Old Parliament House in 1927. Hear about the activists who campaigned for a voice in Federal Parliament and the accomplishments of Neville Bonner, the first Aboriginal Australian to be elected to parliament. Visit heritage spaces including the Prime Minister’s Office and the Senate Chamber and learn about the contributions of activists like Wenten Rubuntja, Charlie Perkins and Faith Bandler.
For more information (free, bookings required): www.naidoc.org.au/get-involved/naidoc-week-events/first-nations-experience-democracy-0 and First Nations Experiences of Democracy Tour – moadoph.ticketing.
Reconciliation Place Walks
Daily, Monday 7 – Friday 11 July, 10-11am, Meeting Point: Fire and Water Sculpture, Parkes Place West
From the National Capital Authority: Join us for a guided tour along Reconciliation Place that explores the rich history, culture and contributions of First Nations peoples. By better understanding our past, we become a voice for generations, embracing the spirit of reconciliation and paving the way for a more inclusive Australia.
For more information (free, bookings required): https://www.nca.gov.au/events/naidoc-week-reconciliation-place-guided-tours.
Portrait Play – Celebrating NAIDOC – School Holiday Activity
Daily, Monday 7 – Friday 18 July, 10.10-11.30am, National Portrait Gallery
Celebrate NAIDOC Week this winter with Portrait Play, a gentle and creative program for families and young children. Through artmaking and playful gallery exploration, children and their grown-ups will connect with First Nations artists and sitters, reflecting on strength, vision and legacy across generations. All materials provided. For children aged 4–8 years to enjoy with their grown-up companions.
For more information and bookings (essential, cost involved): https://portrait.gov.au/calendar/portrait-play-celebrating-naidoc.
Art Steps by Alick Tipoti – School Holiday Activity
Daily, Monday 7 – Wednesday 16 July, 10.30am and 1.30pm, Tim Fairfax Learning Studio, National Gallery of Australia
In this Art Steps program, Alick Tipoti, Kala Lagaw Ya people, shares the story of the Baydham (Shark) star constellation of the Zenadth Kes/Torres Strait. Participants are invited to create star calendars to understand the seasonality of stars in Zenadth Kes culture. For children aged 5-12 years.
For more information (free, bookings essential): https://nga.gov.au/events/art-steps-by-alick-tipoti/.
Culture on the Move weaving workshop
Tuesday 8 July, 2.30-4pm, Banksia Centre, Australian National Botanic Gardens
Celebrate NAIDOC week at the ANBG with Pitta Pitta Wangkamahdla weaver and artist Ronnie Jordan from Culture on the Move. Learn about techniques that have existed for thousands of years and are continuing today as part of the world’s oldest continuing living culture. All materials supplied. Suitable for 12+ years.
For more information and bookings (cost involved): https://visit.anbg.gov.au/things-do/whats-on/events/culture-on-move-weaving-workshop/.
The Next Generation NAIDOC event
Thursday 10 July, 10am – 4pm, Boomanulla Oval, Narrabundah
In celebration of NAIDOC Week 2025, with its theme “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy”, the Message Stick Foundation is proud to announce its inaugural event for First Nations youth on Ngunnawal (ACT) Country. The event will provide a powerful platform for First Nations mob to come together to connect and share. Many organisations, including ANTaR ACT, will have stalls and activities at the event.
For more information, see: https://www.facebook.com/events/s/for-youth-by-youth-the-next-ge/1875186939883442/.
Spotlight Conversations: Keeping Country Strong
Thursday 10 July, 6-7.30pm, Visions Theatre, National Museum of Australia
Join us for this special NAIDOC week event to find out how Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) are transforming Indigenous communities and contributing to the global fight against environmental degradation, species loss and climate change. The event features a screening of Keeping Country Strong, a new documentary highlighting the critical work of Indigenous Rangers in IPAs across Australia. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Traditional Owners with experience at IPA creation and management.
For more information and bookings (cost involved): www.nma.gov.au/whats-on/spotlight-conversations.
Big Name, No Blankets
Thursday 10 – Saturday 12 July, 7.30pm, Canberra Theatre
Big Name, No Blankets celebrates the phenomenal journey and impact of Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher, one of the founding members of Australian music icons Warumpi Band in an epic rock ‘n’ roll theatre show. Named after Warumpi Band’s debut album, Big Name, No Blankets is a theatre show featuring Warumpi hits, showcasing Luritja and Gumatj (Yolngu Matha) languages and culture.
For more information and bookings: https://canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/big-name-no-blankets-2025/.
Nunga Screen 2025
Friday 11 July, 11am-12.30pm and 2-3.30pm, James Fairfax Theatre, National Gallery of Australia
Presented by Country Arts SA, Nunga Screen is a curated program of short films by First Nations filmmakers including animation, documentaries and scripted drama. The program includes inspiring documentaries, captivating stories, dramas, animation, and a blend of contemporary and traditional storytelling dedicated to bringing communities together to celebrate culture and foster meaningful conversations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
For more information (free event, bookings not required): https://nga.gov.au/events/nunga-screen-2025/.
Maring Ngala Walk
Saturday 12 July, 10.30am – 12pm and 1-2.30pm, Lanyon Homestead, Tharwa
Join Ngunawal custodian Wally Bell on a walk at Lanyon Homestead to learn about Aboriginal connection to the area and the Murrumbidgee River. Discover the significance of the Canoe Tree to the Ngunnawal people and what its presence here tells us of the strong community that lived within the cultural landscape. This is a NAIDOC Week event.
For more information and bookings, see: https://events.humanitix.com/walk-maring-ngala-walk-naidoc-week.
NAIDOC in the North 10th Anniversary celebrations
Saturday 12 July, 11am – 2pm, Belco Arts, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen
NAIDOC in the North is a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture through story, song, art dance and ceremony. It is held at Belco Arts, on the lands of the Ngunnawal People, and welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to learn from our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community through workshops, performances, activities and entertainment.
ANTaR ACT will have a stall on the day, with information about our activities, books from First Nations authors, and other merchandise. Please come and say hello!
For more information, see: https://www.belcoarts.com.au/naidoc-2025-callout/.
SPEAR + Q&A
Saturday 12 July, 1pm, Arc Cinema, National Film and Sound Archive
Join director Stephen Page AO for a screening of his first feature film, followed by a Q&A exploring themes of dislocation and identity. We meet Djali (played by the director’s son and Cleverman star, Hunter Page-Lochard), a young First Nations man on a confronting journey, shadowed by Suicide Man (Aaron Pedersen). Celebrated choreographer Stephen Page’s film is a story told through dance. It is adapted from work by Bangarra Dance Theatre, beautifully scored by Page’s brother David Page, and stunningly shot by Bonnie Elliott.
For more information and booking (cost involved): https://tickets.nfsa.gov.au/Events/SPEAR-Q-A.
Demystifying and re-storying the serpent: why snakes deserve our attention and respect
Wednesday 16 July, 6.30-8pm, Wildbark, 25 Rosenberg St, Throsby
On World Snake Day in the Year of the Snake, join Ngunnawal Knowledge Holder, Tyronne Bell, and local snake handler, researcher and conservationist, Dr Gavin Smith, for a special evening of snake yarning. Part of the Paperbark Science Series.
For more information and bookings ($15): wildbarkatmulligansflat.rezdy.com/673770/paperbark-science-series-gavin-smith-tyronne-bell
Indigenous mathematics in the finest, most effective, long-distance, communication system in the world
Thursday 17 July, 10-11am, Room 1.33 and 1.37, Hanna Neumann Building #145, Australian National University
Professor Rowena Ball will be giving a talk on indigenous mathematics, in order to celebrate the NAIDOC week. Professor Ball leads a research-based education program called Mathematics Without Borders about non-Western and Indigenous mathematics and truth-telling in mathematics history, and how this knowledge can inform new mathematical and data science approaches to problems important to Indigenous communities.
For more information: https://maths.anu.edu.au/news-events/events/indigenous-mathematics-finest-most-effective-long-distance-communication-system.
LOCAL Politics in the Pub: Why is Indigenous incarceration in the ACT so high?
Monday 21 July, 5.30pm for 6pm start, Irish Club, 6 Parkinson St Weston (note new venue)
Speaker: Julie Tongs, OAM, CEO of Winnunga.
As the only jurisdiction that voted YES in the referendum, Canberrans would be shocked to know there have been 3 Aboriginal deaths in custody at the Alexander Maconochie Centre in the last 6 months, that we have very high rates of Indigenous incarceration, the highest rate of recidivism in the country, and that our rate of youth in detention is the third highest in Australia after Queensland and the Northern Territory.
More information and registration (preferred): https://events.humanitix.com/why-is-indigenous-incarceration-in-the-act-so-high
Illume – Bangarra Dance Theatre
Friday 25 July, 7.30pm, Saturday 26 July, 1.30pm and 7.30pm, Canberra Theatre Centre
From Mirning Artistic Director Frances Rings and Goolarrgon Bard Visual Artist Darrell Sibosado comes Illume, an iridescent new theatrical experience, drawing together music, visual arts and dance to explore the ways light has captivated and sustained Indigenous cultural existence for millennia.
Frances’s and Darrell’s collaboration explores the awe of light, a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds. It charts the impacts of light pollution in a climate emergency. Illume asks the urgent question: is the deep wisdom passed down from elders enough to illuminate a path forward from the shadows of a dark future?
For more information and bookings, see: https://canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/bangarra-illume-2025/ .
Marrow
Thursday 31 July and Friday 1 August, 8pm, The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre
Set on a shared ground where politics and identity are not our totality, Marrow is a muscular dance work that sees Australian Dance Theatre’s incredible ensemble tangle with layers of smoke and light to disassemble our dominant cultural narratives and reveal the truth of our past.
Created by Daniel Riley in collaboration with ADT’s Company Artists, senior Kaurna/Ngarrindjeri Elder Uncle Moogy Sumner AM, composer James Howard (SAVAGE), Matthew Adey (THE HUM) and Ailsa Patterson (Tracker), Marrow sees the company delve deeper into the falsehoods and alienation at the core of our shared history.
For more information and bookings, see: https://canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/marrow-2025/.
Friday Art Talks: Adam Ford on Kulata Tjuta
Friday 1 August, 12-1pm, National Gallery of Australia (Gallery 15, level 1)
Join Adam Ford, Nyoongar (Menang/Goreng), Associate Curator, First Nations Art, for a talk in the exhibition Kulata Tjuta: Tirkilpa.
In this talk, Adam will speak about the Kulata Tjuta (Many Spears) Project, a cultural maintenance project that shares the skills of carving and making the punu kulata (wooden spear) across generations. Adam will focus on the ongoing cultural significance of the punu kulata for Aṉangu men from across the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands.
For more information about the talk (free, no bookings required but capacity is limited), see: https://nga.gov.au/events/adam-ford-on-kulata-tjuta/.
For more information about the ongoing exhibition, see: https://nga.gov.au/exhibitions/kulata-tjuta-tirkilpa/.
Deadly Dialogues: Bringing Them Home Oration with Kutcha Edwards
Wednesday 6 August, 6-7pm, National Library of Australia Theatre
The Bringing Them Home Oral History project ran between 1998 and 2002. The project was established by the Library in response to the first recommendation of Bringing Them Home: Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families by the Commonwealth of Australia in 1997. Australians from across the nation told us their experiences of the laws and policies which created the Stolen Generations. In commemoration of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who found the strength to share their stories, the Library invites you to join us for our next Deadly Dialogue event, the Inaugural Bringing Them Home Oration with Kutcha Edwards.
For more information and bookings (free event): https://www.library.gov.au/whats-on/events/deadly-dialogues-bringing-them-home-oration-kutcha-edwards.
Tours – all year
First Australians tour
Daily, 3-4pm, National Museum of Australia
Learn about First Nations peoples, their history, culture and connection to Country on this guided tour.
For more information and bookings (cost involved): https://www.nma.gov.au/whats-on/tours-experiences/first-australians .
‘Yeribee’ Indigenous experiences of Parliament House
Tuesdays and Saturdays, 12noon-12.45pm, Parliament House
Hear the stories of our Indigenous parliamentarians and experience artworks from the Parliament House Art Collection by celebrated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The tour will look at The Apology to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples, the Yirrkala bark petitions and pieces from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from the Parliament House Art Collections.
For more information (free, bookings essential): https://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/Whats_On/Tour/Yeribee_Indigenous_experiences_of_Parliament_House
Exhibitions
NEW: Statement: Jack Green’s Paintings
Museum of Australian Democracy, closing soon
In 2020, Garrwa man Jack Green submitted a series of paintings to the parliamentary inquiry into the destruction of 46,000-year-old caves at Juukan Gorge. For Green, the submission was another way to make his voice heard. Green’s art tells stories of dispossession, destruction and the sadness of First Nations peoples prevented from protecting and caring for Country.
For more information: https://www.moadoph.gov.au/visit/whats-on/exhibitions/statement-jack-greens-paintings
NEW: Fulcrum
Opening Event: Thursday 3 July, 5-7pm; exhibition open from 25 June to 10 August, Canberra Glassworks, Main Gallery
Walgalu/Wiradjuri artist Aidan Hartshorn explores the ongoing colonial disruptions to Walgalu connections with the land. Using industrial glass and elements, the exhibition reflects his journey of crafting cultural objects while examining the degradation of his ancestral landscape.
For more information, see: https://canberraglassworks.com/2025-exhibition-3/. To RSVP to opening event: https://events.humanitix.com/exhibition-opening-of-aidan-hartshorn.
NEW: Elegance in Heritage: First Nations Jewellery Unveiled
Opening event: Saturday 5 July, 4.30pm; exhibition open to Sunday 13 July, ANCA Gallery, 1 Rosevear Place, Dickson
Elegance in Heritage: First Nations Jewellery Unveiled showcases a collection of contemporary First Nations inspired jewellery pieces, wearable by all, with each piece narrating a unique cultural story. Embracing this year’s theme for NAIDOC Week 2025, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, the exhibition—designed and curated by local jeweller Thomas Coen Bonson—celebrates First Nations heritage and its enduring impact.
For more information: https://www.anca.net.au/2025-exhibition-program/2025/2/14/naidoc-exhibition .
Resilience, Reflection, and Renewal Art Exhibition by Sarah Richards
Exhibition open to 19 July, The Fever Ward Gallery, Rusten House Art Centre, 87 Collett St, Queanbeyan
Inspired by the cycles of life and the wisdom they reveal, this collection by proud Ngiyampaa woman and award-winning artist Sarah Richards invites you into a journey of resilience, reflection, and renewal. Each painting captures a moment in time—sometimes vast and open, other times deep and uncertain. Through shifting colours, layered textures, and symbolic pathways, Sarah’s work explores the balance between holding on and letting go, and stepping forward with courage. Every mark, every step, and every transition tells a story, honouring both where we’ve been and what lies ahead.
For more information: www.facebook.com/events/s/resilience-reflection-and-rene/774073221622081/.
True: Kevin Gilbert 1933 – 1993
Exhibition open to 9 August, Tuggeranong Arts Centre
An exhibition of prints and poetry by Kevin Gilbert, that recalls the artist, the writer and the activist, beginning in what would have been his 92nd year. Celebrate his life and art with images and poetry created during his lifetime along with some works editioned for the first time.
For more information (free exhibition): https://tuggeranongarts.com/true-kevin-gilbert-1933-1993-13-jun-9-aug/.
Rechelle Turner & Megan Daley | From Country exhibition
Exhibition open to 9 August, Tuggeranong Arts Centre
A collaborative art exhibition by Megan Daley (Ngunnawal/Wiradjuri) and Rechelle Turner (Wiradjuri) that delves into their deep-rooted connection to Country and the timeless stories it holds. The exhibition is a continuation of their artistic partnership and the vision behind their emerging fashion label, Corella & Crow, which celebrates the resilience and beauty of Ngunnawal and Wiradjuri cultures. Through textiles, storytelling, and visual art, From Country invites audiences to experience the layers of heritage, identity, and belonging that inspire Megan and Rechelle’s creative journey, honouring the landscapes, wisdom, and spirit of country that shape and sustain their work.
For more information (free exhibition): https://tuggeranongarts.com/rechelle-turner-megan-daley-from-country-13-jun-9-aug/.
Kulata Tjuta: Tirkilpa
To 29 March 2026, Level 1, Gallery 15, National Gallery of Australia
Kulata Tjuta is an ongoing cultural maintenance project that shares the skills of carving and making the punu kulata (wooden spear) across generations. Kulata Tjuta: Tirkilpa is the largest and most significant installation of the culturally important and visually spectacular Kulata Tjuta (Many Spears) Project. Like others in the series, it is rooted in age-old traditions, knowledge and skills that are designed around keeping Country and culture strong. The artistic outcomes take the form of large-scale, multi-disciplinary installations which incorporate film, sound, live performance and other artistic collaborations.
For more information, see: https://nga.gov.au/exhibitions/kulata-tjuta-tirkilpa/.
Online – things to watch
NITV NAIDOC Week Collection
NITV and SBS have put together the NAIDOC Week Collection to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Find out more about what is available at: 50 Years Strong: SBS and NITV supercharge NAIDOC Week 2025 with a joint 50th celebration .
You can watch on SBS and NITV, and also stream through the NITV Muy Ngulayg hub, a dedicated streaming hub on SBS On Demand that provides a platform for First Nations storytelling including First Nations films, documentaries and TV series from Australia and around the world that illuminate inner knowledge, traditional culture and lore.
NFSA Nangamai (Dream) – A celebration of First Nations culture
The National Film and Sound Archive’s Nangamai Collection pays tribute to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trailblazers, icons, dreamers and performers who have kept their rich culture and history alive through activism, writing, filmmaking, song, dance and art.
ANTaR ACT acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which Canberra is situated, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region. We also acknowledge other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who may visit this area.