NAIDOC Celebrates 50 Years of Indigenous Excellence Through the Power of ‘Deadly’

Official NAIDOC celebrations have commenced across Australia this Sunday, marking a historic milestone with the theme “50 Years of Deadly.” The week-long event celebrates the achievements and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, focusing on a term that has become synonymous with Indigenous excellence and community pride. Reporting for ABC Kimberley, Matt Francis, a man of Nyul Nyul and Bardi heritage, reflected on the linguistic evolution of the word. While the standard English definition refers to something fatal, in Aboriginal English, “deadly” serves as one of the highest compliments. Mr. Francis, who was raised in Broome, noted that the term has been a constant presence in his life, from the sports field to the 1990s Deadly Awards, which recognised Indigenous leaders in music, arts, and community service. Glenys Dale Collard, a Nyungar woman and 2025 Western Australia Women’s Hall of Fame inductee, told the ABC that the word evokes immense pride during cultural gatherings. She explained that for her community, seeing the flag or attending a gathering and hearing the word signifies something deeply positive. Ms. Collard, who has spent nearly thirty years working in Indigenous language preservation, noted that the term represents a form of linguistic reclamation, where Indigenous people took English words and attributed their own cultural meanings to them. The celebrations also highlight individual contributions to Indigenous culture, such as the work of Ngadju Muddawonga man Jason Dimer, who uses country music to foster community connections. As NAIDOC turns 50, the use of “deadly” continues to serve as a powerful tool for storytelling and truth-telling, reflecting the journey of Indigenous Australians over the last half-century.