Celebrate NAIDOC Week 2026: Smoking Ceremony and Community Afternoon Tea at TAMA 

In celebration of National NAIDOC Week, Ararat Rural City Council invites the community to a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony facilitated by Eastern Maar member Billy Briggs, to honour NAIDOC Week 2026. 

The event will be held on Thursday 9 July, from 2pm - 3pm in the Ararat Gallery TAMA courtyard. Afterwards, attendees are invited to an afternoon tea in the Gallery’s Studio. 

This event is free entry, with bookings requested to help plan catering. Please register your attendance via Ararat Gallery TAMA's website. Entry is via the Ararat Gallery TAMA front entrance, 82 Vincent Street, Ararat.

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It serves as an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the world’s oldest, continuous living cultures.

This year, National NAIDOC Week reaches a historic milestone, marking 50 years of honouring and celebrating Indigenous culture, history, and achievements. 

Under the banner "50 Years of Deadly," this year’s theme pays tribute to the movement's pioneers. It is a time to reflect on five decades of stories, marches, language preservation, art, and leadership.

Ararat Rural City Council Mayor, Cr Bob Sanders, emphasised the importance of the occasion, “National NAIDOC Week is an important opportunity to recognise the profound contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”

“It invites all of us to honour their deep cultural heritage and renew our shared commitment to reconciliation and unity. Council proudly supports NAIDOC week as a time for community-wide learning, reflection, and respect for First Nations stories and achievements.”

Visit the official NAIDOC Week website for more information.