Published on 4 August 2020
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day is the national day dedicated to celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, it is celebrated Nationwide on August 4 each year and has been in existence since 1988.
The day exists to celebrate the strengths and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and to open the discussion about the important role culture has in our community.
Each year a theme is stated, the theme for 2020 is:
We are the Elders of tomorrow, hear our voice
Elders are the official holders of traditional knowledge and work to uphold and improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Australian Human Rights Commission includes three important rights for children that work hand in hand with this theme. Children have the right to;
- Have a say about decisions affecting them
- Knowing who they are and where they come from
- Find out information and express themselves
It is important to encourage children to learn about their culture no matter what their background is and also important to allow children a voice in these matters.
To learn more about Aboriginal culture you can download the new languages app created by the Australian Education Consultative Group (AECG). The app currently has four Aboriginal languages from across NSW and is a great resource for kids.
So why not take part in this special day of celebration and share are a picture showing how your family or children are keeping connected to culture. Please use @SNAICC and hashtag #KidsConnectedtoCulture #NATSIChildrensDay2020 #EldersOfTomorrow and #StrongInCulture
For further information about National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day visit the Children’s Day website.