NAIDOC Week: An opportunity to be proud

The first time Ahna Maree Barker remembers feeling proud during NAIDOC Week, she was sitting with mob in her school classroom with a pen in her hand, creating a poster for the NAIDOC poster competition.

“The First Nations students in my school loved getting involved and connecting with each other,” Ahna said.

“It was one of the first times I saw my culture celebrated, and it made me feel proud as a young Aboriginal child. That was when I really understood what NAIDOC Week meant.”

Now 19, that feeling has grown into a deeper connection.

Raised in Meanjin (Brisbane), Ahna is a proud Biripi and Dunghutti woman with Lebanese heritage.

Like many young First Nations people, she sees NAIDOC Week as an opportunity to celebrate culture, connect with community and carry forward the stories and strength of those who came before.

“It’s an opportunity to be proud,” she said. “Proud of our ancestors, and proud of the collective strength we have today as young people carrying that legacy forward.”

That pride takes many forms. Across Queensland, young people are celebrating NAIDOC Week in classrooms, sporting clubs, community events, creative spaces and online, finding new ways to connect with culture and share their stories.

Creativity and leadership have become important ways for Ahna to contribute.

“I recently participated in the Queensland Indigenous Youth Parliament in 2025 to build my leadership skills and support my advocacy,” she said.

“This year, I’m proud to be contributing to a NAIDOC Week exhibition at Birrunga Gallery, continuing my passion for sharing culture through art, just like I wanted to in school.”

Those experiences have strengthened her commitment to creating opportunities for others.

“I’m passionate about inclusivity and representation,” she said. “For me, it’s about being a positive role model and creating opportunities to amplify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, especially for young people and women.”

Ahna also sees the importance of NAIDOC Week bringing people together, reflecting on memories visiting the Musgrave Park Family Fun Day celebrations as a child.

“You see so much happiness, kids having the best time and families coming together,” she said. “There’s access to Indigenous businesses, artists and services all in one place. It’s a powerful way to support and celebrate mob.”

This year's national theme, 50 Years of Deadly, is a reflection and celebration of the past five decades in which NAIDOC has been used to amplify the achievements, histories and cultures of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia.

“It’s about being proud of the last 50 years while also acknowledging the 65,000 years of history that came before,” she said.

With NAIDOC Week approaching, Ahna encourages Queenslanders to find a way to take part.

“Check the NAIDOC calendar and explore what’s happening in your community. There’s something for everyone,” she said.