The GIANTS are celebrating NAIDOC Week by reaffirming their commitment to celebrating and embracing First Nations culture year-round, while also welcoming the next generation of Indigenous footballers through the club's growing First Nations Academy.
Coinciding with this year's NAIDOC Week celebrations, the club's First Nations Academy participants will take part in a two-day development camp at the club this week before the GIANTS hosts their inaugural First Nations Community Day ahead of Saturday's clash with the Cats at ENGIE Stadium.
Now in its second year, the GIANTS First Nations Academy continues to provide young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander footballers from across Western Sydney and regional New South Wales with greater access to the game while focusing on leadership, wellbeing, education, and culture alongside football development.
GIANTS First Nations Engagement Manager, Malcolm Lynch, said NAIDOC Week was an opportunity not only to celebrate the world's oldest continuing living culture, but also to continue building stronger connections with First Nations communities.
"I think it's very important, not just during NAIDOC Week but throughout the year," Lynch said.
"Building knowledge and capacity within people is really important, and using the power of footy is such a great connector.
"It's an opportunity to bring the community together and build that knowledge and understanding."
Lynch said while NAIDOC Week had evolved into a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and achievement, it was equally important to acknowledge its history.
"Historically, it came from protest," Lynch said.
"If you look back through Australia's history, we've had a pretty dark history and that's something we need to acknowledge.
"If you fast forward to today, it's now an opportunity to celebrate culture and achievements within our communities, while also giving people the chance to ask questions, be curious and understand that it's a shared history.
"It's a wonderful opportunity to learn about the oldest continuing living culture in the world."
The GIANTS First Nations Academy continues to grow in 2026, with girls joining the program for the first time after its inaugural intake focused primarily on boys aged 12 to 15.
Across the two-day camp, participants will take part in football training, game education, vision analysis and sessions focused on leadership, mental health and personal development.
Lynch said providing opportunities for young First Nations people remained at the heart of the Academy.
"It's about giving young First Nations students a more accessible pathway into our game," he said.
"It's not just about football. We're doing a lot around performance, leadership, mental health, and culture. That's really at the core of the program.
"For me, it's always been about providing access to people who don't normally have access to our game and the pathway to the elite level.
"The sky's the limit with these kinds of programs, and it's exciting to think that maybe one day we'll have someone come through this program who gets drafted onto our AFL list."
The club will cap off the week by hosting its inaugural First Nations Community Day from 12pm on Saturday ahead of the game with Geelong.
Featuring cultural activities, food stalls and community discussions, the event is designed to celebrate First Nations culture while bringing people together through football.
Lynch said the event was another important step in strengthening the club's connection with Indigenous communities across Western Sydney.
"We've wanted to do something like this for the past couple of years," he said.
"We've seen how successful our community festivals have been throughout the year and there's no reason why we shouldn't do something for NAIDOC Week.
"We're in a region with one of the highest Indigenous populations in the country, so it's a wonderful opportunity for the club to continue building meaningful connections."
Celebrating its 50th year in 2026, NAIDOC Week's theme reflects the journey from its origins in the civil rights movement to the nationwide celebration it has become today.
Lynch said while progress had been made, the week remained an important reminder of the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
"When you look at the history and fast forward to where we are now, you realise how much work communities have done over that time," he said.
"To be able to celebrate NAIDOC Week for a full week really highlights the resilience of so many communities, and it's another opportunity for the wider community to become involved."
The GIANTS First Nations Community Day will run from 12pm-3pm on Saturday at the AirTrunk Community Centre before supporters make the short walk to ENGIE Stadium for the club's round 18 clash with the Cats.
Click here to register for the GIANTS First Nations Community Day this Saturday.
Click here to purchase tickets to watch the orange tsunami host the Cats.
