In celebration of NAIDOC Week, Facebook and Instagram Australia have partnered with NAIDOC to launch a collection of new tools and initiatives to recognise Indigenous people, stories and businesses. Launching on 8th November, Australian users of the platforms will have access to, and be empowered to connect with this year's theme, Always Was, Always Will Be, through Indigenous-designed tools, creators, and businesses.
The partnership will launch three new exclusive Instagram Stories stickers designed by Tyrown Waigana, the Noongar and Saibai Islander artist behind this year’s NAIDOC Week poster. Social media users will be able to find the NAIDOC Week designs at the top of their stories tray, similar to the popular stickers, Giphy. In addition to Waigana's stickers, the partnership with NAIDOC will also include four Instagram Stories tiles designed by Nungala Creative, led by proud Warumungu / Wombaya woman Jessica Johnson. These templates will encourage both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian's to reconnect with the country they live in, as well as feeling confident to share the people, communities and organisations that inspire them.
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In celebration of, and to highlight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, Facebook and Instagram are also supporting a new interactive Indigenous music library through the music stickers called 'Blak Australia,' with Indigenous creators also developing and sharing Instagram Guides focused on well-being and connecting to country.
“Facebook is committed to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to celebrate culture, access education, and embrace their economic potential. Our platforms can elevate community voices and share stories in unprecedented ways, and this partnership with NAIDOC will harness that power to bring Indigenous achievements and culture to Australians everywhere,” said Will Easton, Vice President of Facebook Australia.
Marking the end of NAIDOC Week on Saturday 14th November, NAIDOC LIVE: Celebrating Blak Excellence – a Social For Good Facebook livestream – will air live from 6:00pm AEDT across NAIDOC, NITV and Facebook Australia pages. The stream will feature performances and appearances from some of Australia’s top Indigenous talent including Archie Roach, Ash Barty, Kate (Konstantina) Constantine, Wayne Quilliam and many more. Indigenous Literacy Foundation ambassador, Jessica Mauboy will also appear in a Facebook world first XR video production that reimagines her new hit song, Butterfly.
National NAIDOC co-chair, John Paul Janke said it was an exciting opportunity to expand the reach and footprint of NAIDOC Week like never before.
“Millions of Australians can now join in the celebrations via their social media, sharing this stunning content to their networks and thus engaging a whole new audience to our culture, achievement, history, aspirations and voices.”
If you would like to find out more about NAIDOC Week and how you can get involved, follow the link, here.
Image: Instagram
