Celebrating 50 Years of Deadly | NAIDOC Week 2026
In 2026, NAIDOC Week marks a significant milestone - 50 years as a nationwide, week-long celebration.
The official theme, "50 Years of Deadly," celebrates five decades of cultural pride, resilience, and the powerful leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. While the week-long celebration began in 1975, its origins trace back to the 1938 Day of Mourning protests, recognising a long history of advocacy, strength, and the ongoing pursuit of justice and recognition. At Saretta Art & Design, we are proud to contribute to this legacy by sharing culture through authentic Aboriginal art, storytelling, and meaningful collaborations.
As I reflect on this year's NAIDOC celebrations, my heart is filled with gratitude for my Ancestors, Elders and family whose courage, resilience and determination helped pave the way for generations to come. Their fight for the recognition of Aboriginal rights, justice, respect and equality was never easy, yet they stood strong in protecting our culture, our identity and our connection to Country. Because of their sacrifices, we are able to continue sharing our stories, celebrating our culture with pride, and creating opportunities for future generations. I carry their legacy with deep respect, honouring those who walked before us and those who continue to walk beside us as we build a stronger future together.
My NAIDOC Journey
My NAIDOC journey began 50 years ago, I recall attending the celebrations in Newcastle during the 1970’s . It was a much smaller half-day celebration back then, run by many of my family members through Awabakal Co-op, today Awabakal Ltd.
Growing up within my community on Awabakal Country I recall attending the sausage sizzle and picnic races with family and our local community. There I am next (second from right) to my Uncle Bill, who many of you will know as one of our strong community leaders over many years.
Some years later one of my very first jobs was working at Awabakal in the mid-1980’s , which included helping organise NAIDOC Week, which by then was a week-long celebration with many events across the region leading into coming together for the highlight, our debutante ball. It’s been amazing to watch and participate in celebrations over the decades and see the sharing and appreciation of our culture grow.
National Indigenous Art Fair
It was an honour to exhibit alongside so many talented artists and to come together to celebrate the launch of NAIDOC Week at this pinnacle event held at The Cutaway, Barangaroo. A heartfelt thank you to the National Indigenous Art Fair team, especially Peter, Sarah, and everyone involved, for creating such an outstanding event.
The fair was a tremendous success, attracting thousands of visitors, including a few familiar faces.
One of the greatest joys of the National Indigenous Art Fair was meeting so many visitors at the Saretta Art & Design stall, sharing my journey and the stories behind my artworks. It was wonderful to connect with people from all walks of life and see their genuine interest in Aboriginal art and culture.
One of my favourite moments came when I heard a quiet voice behind me say, "Aunt, can I please purchase this silk scarf?" I turned around to find the beautiful Jessica Mauboy holding my Puruma scarf. It was such an unexpected and special moment, one I'll treasure for a long time.
Another familiar face was ABC presenter Jeremy Fernandez, who spent time chatting about my original artworks and the sand engraving textures inspired by traditional sites on Country. He was genuinely interested in the cultural narratives behind the work and was an absolute pleasure to meet, a truly lovely fella.
Awabakal NAIDOC
Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans for us at the Newcastle NAIDOC celebrations. Strong winds swept through the site before the community march arrived, sending our marquees airborne and forcing us to pack up early. While we sadly lost two marquees in the wild weather, we were incredibly grateful that no artwork was damaged, and our team managed to secure everything before the rain set in. Although it wasn't the day we had hoped for, it was a reminder of the resilience that comes with outdoor events, and we're thankful for everyone's support and look forward to returning next year.
NSW Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship
As part of NAIDOC Week celebrations, it was a privilege to join the 2026 Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship announcement at Murrook Culture Centre, celebrating the next generation of First Nations creatives. As Visual Arts Mentor, I was honoured to support this year's finalists alongside an incredible group of mentors, including my brother Damian Smith (Dance), the amazing Casey Donovan, the lovely Samantha Harris, Joshua Gilbert, Warren Taggart and Brendan Blacklock.
A heartfelt congratulations to Jasmine Christie, a proud Palawa artist living and working on Worimi and Awabakal Country, who was announced as the recipient of the 2026 Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship. The Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship continues to create meaningful pathways for emerging First Nations artists, celebrating the strength of our stories, cultures and communities while investing in the future of Indigenous creativity.
Read the 2026 Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship Magazine →
Redfern and Penrith NAIDOC
Our team was also busy at the Redfern and Penrith NAIDOC celebrations, proudly setting up Saretta Art & Design stalls in both locations. I attended the Redfern event, which was a fantastic day filled with culture, connection and celebration. Hosted by NITV and ABC favourite Luke Carroll, the event was full of energy, with Luke keeping everyone entertained with his humour and warmth throughout the day.
It was also wonderful to catch up with one of our brightest rising stars, singer Mi-kaisha. I've had the privilege of watching her career go from strength to strength, and hearing her perform some of her original songs was a real highlight. She and her mum have been wonderful supporters of Saretta Art & Design over the years, so it was especially lovely to celebrate together during this year's NAIDOC festivities.
Midnight Dreaming Community Showcase
NAIDOC Week also provided the opportunity to attend the Midnight Dreaming 50 Years of Deadly at MAP Mima, Speers Point. It was inspiring to witness culture celebrated through dance, art, fashion and storytelling, with so many talented First Nations creatives sharing their gifts with the community.
I was incredibly proud to see my designs featured on the runway and worn by the dancers throughout the evening's performances, bringing Aboriginal art to life through movement and contemporary expression. Huge congratulations to Renae Lamb for her vision and championing the younger generation.
Carrying Culture Forward
As NAIDOC Week 2026 comes to a close, I'm reminded that culture is carried forward through the stories we share, the people we meet and the communities we build together. Every conversation, every artwork and every connection strengthens the path for future generations. Thank you to everyone who visited us, shared their stories and celebrated with us during this special 50th year. I look forward to continuing this journey together.
Continue the Journey
If today's story has inspired you, you can explore my original artworks, discover our Aboriginal fashion collection, or learn how Malang Indigenous Corporation is creating opportunities for future generations.
Thank you for celebrating NAIDOC Week with us. If you'd like to continue supporting Aboriginal art and culture, explore our collections or learn more about Malang Indigenous Corporation.
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