In honour of the 50th anniversary of NAIDOC Week - a time to celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Indigenous people, we caught up with Bayley Mifsud, also known as Merindah-Gunya, meaning ‘Beautiful Spirit’ in the Peek Whurrong language.
With this year’s theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy,” we couldn’t think of a more passionate, creative, and driven voice to share her insights on the significance of NAIDOC Week. Bayley speaks to the power of storytelling, art, the importance of culture, and how we can all play a role in supporting Indigenous creatives and communities - not just this week, but year-round.
Shop Bayley's book and art on her website here.
What’s the meaning behind NAIDOC Week for those who might not know?
NAIDOC Week is a week nationally to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, people and traditions.
How do you celebrate NAIDOC Week personally?
Now that i’m self-employed, I celebrate NAIDOC Week by doing a lot of guest speaking, panel events and key notes. It’s really wonderful to go from organising those kind of events, to actually being a guest there and that’s happened through my artist career growing.
How can people get involved in NAIDOC Week?
If you’re wanting to get involved in NAIDOC Week events, your local council will be running events so jump online and check those out. Other than than, I would encourage you to see if your workplace is doing anything because usually a lot of organisations (particularly those with reconciliation action plans) will be hosting events, make sure you get involved!
Shop Bayley's book and art on her website here.
How can we better support and celebrate Indigenous creatives during NAIDOC Week and beyond?
To support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, I would encourage you to be using your social media platforms to share and support creators in this space. Whether that be art, music, dance or creators, it’s a really powerful source in which is under-utilised by the non-Indigenous community. But this week in particular, my piece of advice is to share Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island creators on socials.
Which Indigenous creatives inspire you and why?
It’s pretty hard to nail it down to one person but I’m a big supporter of Chloe Quayle, also known as Barkaa and Allira Potter. I love all the work that Allira does and seeing the content she posts daily, they would be two big recommendations of mine.
This year’s theme is: The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy - what does this mean to you?
Every year the NAIDOC Week theme is different and this year’s theme to me, speaks on the next generation. I think that we’re in a really important time of our country’s story because Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture being celebrated is just continuously growing, as well as more education within schools. This year’s theme really talks to that and power is knowledge. I hope that I am able to leave my legacy in some way and live up to my Elder’s legacy. It’s something I take a great sense of pride in.
Follow Bayley Mifsud on Instagram here and browse her art and book on her website here.
Find out more about local NAIDOC Week events here.
Find details about the Vic NAIDOC March here.
With a whole lotta love xx