Celebrate truth knowledge and cultures with Always Was Always Will Be this January 26 on NITV and SBS – National Indigenous Television (NITV) and the wider SBS network invite all Australians to deepen their understanding of January 26 through a curated week of First Nations programming and coverage exploring the history, strength and survival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
From Sunday 19 to Sunday 26 January, feature content includes powerful documentary One Mind One Heart,Jub Clerc’s award-winning film Sweet As, and special updates from NITV News.
Tanya Denning-Orman, a proud Birri and Guugu Yimidhirr woman and SBS Director of Indigenous Content, said:
“January 26 is a moment that connects the past to the present as Australians increasingly reflect on the history and complexity of this date for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and contemporary Australia.
“Through our distinctive programming and coverage across NITV and the entire SBS network we’re proud to be presenting unapologetically Blak perspectives, showcasing stories of strength and survival, and providing an opportunity for all Australians to connect with the world’s oldest living continuous culture.
“This year we’re proud to share the feature length documentary One Mind One Heart andaward-winning film Sweet As, celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-created music with a new edition of Sounds of Solidarity, and much more. We encourage all Australians to join us throughout the week.”
Content kicks off on Sunday 19 January with One Mind One Heart premiering on NITV and SBS to trace the historical journey of the Yirrkala Bark Petitions, pivotal in the recognition of Aboriginal rights in Australia. Intertwining the 1963 petition’s inception with footage interviews from strong and passionate Yolŋu woman, Yananymul Mununggurr, and others, the documentary provides a detailed perspective on the ongoing quest for Indigenous rights in Australia.
The week continues with Sweet As, an uplifting coming-of-age road trip movie about a 15-year-old girl (Shantae Barnes Cowan) who undertakes a transformative bus trip to the Pilbara, WA. On the trail, she learns about fun, friendship and first crushes, as well as the forces of ‘reality’ that puncture the bubble of youth. Sweet As airs on NITV on Thursday 23 January at 8.30pm and on SBS World Movies on Sunday January 26 at 8.30pm. It will also be available to stream on SBS On Demand.
On Sunday January 26, the strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, stories and histories will be given prominence across NITV, beginning with Bamayat 5am. The morning will focus on cultures and ceremonies, with the WugulOra Morning Ceremony premiering at 7.30am. WugulOra means “One Mob” in the Gadigal language and is a celebration of the culture of the Gadigal peoples of the Eora Nation, told through dance, song and storytelling. WugulOra provides a reflective start to January 26, serving as a reminder that Aboriginal people are caretakers of the world’s oldest continuous living culture and the foundation of Australia’s story.
Other programs in the morning include the cultural dance ceremony buŋgul from Garma Festival 2024 and DanceRites 2024, a showcase of Indigenous dance traditions filmed on Gadigal Land.
The 2024 Elder in Residence Oration from Widjabul Wia-bal woman from the Bundjalung Nation and SBS Elder in Residence, Rhoda Roberts AO, delivered earlier this year will again air at 10.55am. In this year’s oration, Roberts is joined by renowned Wiradjuri journalist Stan Grant.
Sounds of Solidarity premieres at 2.20pm and is hosted by Nooky, Naomi Wenitong and Megan Waters. Featuring the best of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music, this three-hour program, filmed on Larrakia Country in the Northern Territory, celebrates the powerful and enduring legacy of First Nations music and cultures.
Also on January 26, NITV News coverage and updates across broadcast and digital platforms will provide ongoing reporting and insights into the day’s events from every state and territory. The coverage will be led by NITV News presenter and NITV Head of Indigenous News and Current Affairs, Natalie Ahmat, a proud Mudburra and Wagadagum woman.
Two-minute bulletins will air regularly in the afternoon, culminating in a news program, Day 26 – NITV News, premiering at 5.30pm and simulcast on SBS. The program will look at how communities across the country are marking the day.
SBS On Demand will feature a curated Always Was, Always Will Be collection of First Nations films and documentaries, and the NITV Muy Ngulayg First Nations content hub on SBS On Demand, continues to be a dedicated space bringing together all of NITV and SBS’s First Nations content, for all Australians to learn, be entertained and inspired by.
SBS Food will air a selection of programs throughout the day, celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures through cuisine with episodes of The Cook Up with Adam Liaw and Wild Kitchen with Clayton Donovan. At 10.10pm,SBS VICELAND will air First Nations standup comedy program Deadly Funny.
In addition to Sweet As, SBS World Movies will air Rabbit Proof Fence on Monday 20 January at 6pm and The Furnace on Tuesday 21 January at 7.30pm.
SBS Audio will be covering January 26 in more than 60 languages, providing multi-platform stories and explainers that explore diverse perspectives about this day, as well as deepening understanding and connections with First Nations peoples among multicultural communities.
SBS Learn will showcase a range of Always Was, Always Will Be teacher resources exploring the histories, languages and cultures of Australia’s First Peoples. This includes The First Inventors resource which is based on the documentary of the same name and delves into the extraordinary science and inventions behind the world’s oldest living culture, and Understanding the Frontier Wars resource, which is based on the award-winning documentary series The Australian Wars.
Teachers can use the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Protocol Guide for teachers to create a culturally enriching learning environment for the school community to engage respectfully with First Nations peoples and perspectives. This Protocols guide is authored by Wonnarua and Kunja woman, Shiralee Lawson, and Wiradjuri woman, Jarin Baigent. Follow the conversation on social media using
#AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe
Media Release – SBS
Link to SBS on Demand HERE
TV Central SBS content HERE
Celebrate truth knowledge and cultures with Always Was Always Will Be this January 26 on NITV and SBS
