It all started on January 26, 1938, when prominent First Nations activists, such as Yorta Yorta elder William Cooper, Yorta Yorta man Sir Douglas Nicholls and Yorta Yorta elder Jack Patten, organised a protest.
Protesters dressed in black silently marched in Sydney to mark the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet. Its impact is remembered as the Day of Mourning, marking the cornerstone of a national observance.
Consequently, the day before Australia Day was designated as National Aborigines* Day.
In 1955, this observance was shifted to July to include a celebration of Indigenous achievements and culture in the event.
In 1975, the National Aborigines Day Observance Committee expanded the event to a full week.
The committee became the National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee, or NAIDOC, in the 1990s.
Note: The word ‘Aborigine’ is an outdated term, but it is used in this instance for historical accuracy.