NAIDOC Week kicks off in Australia with 'deadly' celebrations and powerful Indigenous art

NAIDOC Week, a significant celebration for First Nations people in Australia, has commenced with the theme '50 Years of Deadly.' The term 'deadly,' often used within these communities, signifies achievement, possibility, hope, and survival, standing in contrast to its literal meaning.

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Like, something beautiful, something solid, that’s how you do it – that’s what I resonate with.

Multidisciplinary artist Zaachariaha Fielding, an Adelaide-based Pitjantjatjara-Yankunyjatjara man, finds the term 'wiru' more resonant, describing it as something beautiful and solid. However, he acknowledges the cultural significance of 'deadly' as NAIDOC Week begins. Fielding is this year's winner of the National NAIDOC Week poster competition for his artwork titled 'Paraulpi.'

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It’s his story of NAIDOC and what it represents. It just spoke to us, we were all just gobsmacked by it. He’s such a gifted, talented person. It’s just gorgeous.

NAIDOC co-chair Steven Satour praised Fielding's piece, calling it "gorgeous" and a powerful representation of NAIDOC's meaning. Fielding, whose father is also a celebrated artist, described 'Paraulpi' as an act of respect to his ancestors and a representation of life bridging the Western and Anangu worlds. He explained his understanding of both cultures and languages, noting that Yankunytjatjara is rarely translated for English speakers.

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You can’t help but give respect to your lineage, those people before you.

The vibrant colors in 'Paraulpi,' particularly the deep reds, symbolize the DNA of Fielding's desert community of Mimili. "Blood is so powerful and beautiful and its color, and we all bleed red," he said, explaining his intention to explore inner identity through the artwork's palette. Satour highlighted that NAIDOC itself is a tribute to the enduring spirit of First Nations communities, evolving from a day of mourning in 1938 to a week-long national celebration.

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Yankunytjatjara is its own language, but it’s always translated for English; English is never translated for Yankunytjatjara.