It's the first week of July which means its NAIDOC Week - an annual celebration of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee and the week runs from 6-13 July, kicking off this Sunday. NAIDOC, with its twin ambitions of political and cultural awareness, claims a link back to the political activism of Sydney's Aboriginal community in the early 20th century. So it is a good time to look at some of the content in the Dictionary about Aboriginal Sydney, particularly related to Aboriginal activism. The formation of the Australian Aborigines Progressive Association (1924) paved the way for the Aborigines Progressive Association (1937) and the Day of Mourning Conference held on Australia Day 1938. We have articles about each of these organisations and events in the Dictionary so you can read more. It was the depredations and abuses applied by the government's Aborigines Protection Board in the late 19th century that spurred on this political revolt. Organised political protest was a powerful tool for Aboriginal people in Sydney in the first half of the twentieth century. Communities organised and protested to protect their land and their children. We have an article about Aboriginal Politics to 1945 - this is a great article written by the Aboriginal historian John Maynard that provides important political context to the various Aboriginal political groups that burst forth in the 1920s and 1930s. WWII stalled much of the political activism but in its own way led to a second wave of political activism. There was growing migration of Aboriginal people from regional and rural NSW in to the inner-city and many people, particularly those from the state's west or north coast settled around Redfern and Waterloo. Similarly, there are strong links between the Aboriginal community at La Perouse and communities on the south coast. Members of the 'Stolen Generation' also found solace and a sense of community around Redfern. We have a comprehensive article written by George Morgan on Aboriginal Migration to Sydney since WWII. The industrial and working class suburbs provided cheap housing and unskilled job opportunities. The growing Aboriginal community in Redfern became increasingly vocal about assimilation policies, discrimination, police harassment, and the need for better housing and health. New political groups and organisations emerged leading to a second wave of activism in the 1960s and 1970s. Out of this emerged the Aboriginal Legal Service, the Aboriginal Medical Service, Murrawina, the National Black Theatre and the Aboriginal Housing Company. NAIDOC week is a great time to learn more about Sydney's history and our Aboriginal communities. There are plenty of activities and events happening all over Sydney - from flag raising ceremonies to family fun days. My picks for NAIDOC week: I'll be down at Hyde Park next Monday as part of the big NAIDOC in the City event. I'm also going along to a series of talks at the State Library on Thursday about Black Diggers and the Great War which includes talks by historians John Maynard, Mick Dodson, Heather Goodall and Jessica Horton. And I'm not going to miss the exhibition "Hereby Make Protest" about the 1938 Day of Mourning. It's on at Carriageworks until the 18 July. For a full list of events, go to the NAIDOC week events calendar You can hear Lisa every Wednesday morning on 2SER with Mitch Byatt. If you missed this morning, you can catch up on the podcast here.