NAIDOC Week 2024: Craft ideas to celebrate Indigenous culture
These fun craft activities will help kids learn and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia from July 7 to 14 to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. The 2024 NAIDOC Week theme is ‘Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud and proud’.
You can support and get to know your local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities through activities and events held across the country.
To help spark conversations in your own home we’re sharing some fun craft ideas with significance to Indigenous Australian stories and culture.
How to make a paper Turtle
Up in the beautiful Kimberley region, five of the world’s seven species of marine turtles inhabit Roebuck Bay. Turtles are so special to the Yawuru nation that, in the six seasons of the year they recognise, one coincides with when turtles lay their eggs. In the Yawuru language, a turtle is called gurlibil.
With so many little pieces to cut out, this is a fantastic project to really flex fine motor skills. Children can tailor the trickiness of the shell to suit their scissor skills and experience.
This fun craft idea is from Gunditjmara-woman Bayley Misfud, Officeworks’ National Indigenous Engagement Lead.
What you’ll need:
- Kadink Construction Paper A4 Assorted 500 Pack
- Keji Graphite Pencils HB 5 Pack
- Studymate Glue Stick 8g
- Studymate Soft Grip Scissors 6″/152mm
- Kadink A4 Coloured Card 180gsm 30 Pack
How to make your turtle:
1. Download and print out our template, below, and cut out the gurlibil, tracing it onto a piece of light green cardboard. Use scissors to trim around the pencil outline of your gurlibil.
2. Cut out its shell on another piece of cardboard, using a darker green.
3. Then take a piece of brown paper, and cut out shapes to glue onto the shell of the gurlibil. Hexagon shapes fit together nicely!
4. Glue all the shapes onto the gurlibil shell, and try to fit them together neatly. If your shapes don’t fit together, trim them and have a play – it’s like a homemade puzzle.
5. Once all the shell pieces are glued down, make two small cuts on either side of the shell.
6. Carefully bend one side of the cut under the other, and glue to the inside of the shell, repeating on the other side. This will make your shell bend upwards.
7. Now make some small shapes out of green and brown paper and glue onto the gurlibil’s flippers to give it texture.
9. Then add glue around the edges of the gurlibil’s middle and press the shell piece down onto the glued area, to hold it in place.
10. Add eyes by cutting our small black and white paper circles and gluing on. Your gurlibil is complete – and completely cute.
Cricut partners with Indigenous Artists to celebrate NAIDOC Week and support communities
Cricut has partnered with three Indigenous artists – Kyralee Shields, Leah Cummins, and Breanna Buttenshaw – to launch a collection of Indigenous art and NAIDOC Week inspired designs through the Cricut Design Space platform, with all proceeds from designs supporting the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and Children’s Ground.
This collaboration brings a rich cultural heritage of Indigenous art and traditions into the hands of millions of creators worldwide. These designs not only celebrate Indigenous culture, but every use, will also contribute to the educational and cultural development of remote indigenous communities.
The artists designs, inspired by Indigenous stories and symbolism, are now available in Cricut’s extensive design library, via Cricut ANZ Designs official contributing artist page.
Kyralee Shields, a proud Dharug woman, says, “this collaboration is a wonderful way to share our culture and stories through art. Additionally, I am proud that our efforts will support both the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and Children’s Ground, making a meaningful impact.”
Breanna Buttenshaw, Kalkadoon woman who lives and works on Quandamooka Country, adds, “working with Cricut for NAIDOC week is an exciting opportunity to bring our traditional art forms into homes worldwide. It’s a celebration of our identity and a step towards greater visibility for Indigenous artists.”
