Sounds of Solidarity and WugulOra added to NITV and SBS’s Always Was, Always Will Be programming slate for January 26
NITV and the wider SBS network have announced additional programming for the day of January 26 including celebratory music program Sounds of Solidarity and a live broadcast of the WugulOra Morning Ceremony from Gadigal land, aspart of Always Was, Always Will Be, a curated week of content across the SBS network.
From 7.30am, NITV’s broadcast of WugulOra, which means ‘one mob’, is hosted by proud Jerrinja and Wandi Wandiaan woman Shahni Wellington (Big Mob Brekky, First Nations Arts Awards) and proud Wuthathi and Meriam man John Paul Janke (The Point, Sunrise Ceremony).
Taking place at Barangaroo Reserve, the ceremony is a sacred and reflective start to January 26, celebrating Aboriginal cultures with special performances by singers and dancers, and providing a reminder that First Nations peoples are the foundation of Australia’s story and caretakers of the world’s oldest continuous living culture.
At 2.30pm, NITV brings Australians the best in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music with Sounds of Solidarity, a program celebrating the powerful and enduring legacy of First Nations music and cultures by showcasing iconic music videos, interspersed with news updates.
Sounds of Solidarity is hosted by proud Wiradjuri and Western Arrernte woman, Executive Producer and Presenter of NITV Radio, Lowanna Grant, proud Yuin and Thunghutti man, rapper and presenter Nooky and Australian Indigenous Butchulla Songman Fred Leone.
Each year. Always Was Always Will Be across the whole SBS network, invites all Australians to deepen their understanding of January 26 through a curated week of First Nations programming. In 2024, the line-up includes powerful new NITV documentary Her Name is Nanny Nellie on Sunday 21 January, Leah Purcell’saward-winning film The Drover’s Wife on Thursday 25 January, and special updates from NITV News on January 26, culminating in a special one-hour bulletin at 5.30pm. The network’s suite of content explores the history of First Nations peoples including trailblazers who’ve made a difference.
Tanya Denning-Orman, a proud Birri and Guugu Yimidhirr woman and SBS Director of Indigenous Content, said:
“Every year, in the lead up to and on January 26, the whole of the SBS network – with NITV as its heart – comes together to present a special line-up of programming and content across our platforms and in more than 60 languages, which celebrates the strength, beauty and power of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and the resilience and achievements of First Nations peoples.
“This year, we are excited to be providing more new programming on January 26 including our live broadcast of the WugulOra morning ceremony from Barangaroo, and a celebration of Blak music with Sounds of Solidarity during the day, adding to the collection of premieres and program encores inviting all Australians to connect, engage and reflect throughout the week.”
Programming across the week includes:
Her Name is Nanny Nellie
Premiering Sunday 21 January at 8.30pm on NITV and SBS. Also available on SBS On Demand.
This feature-length documentary tells the story of a trio of nameless statues buried in the archives of the Australian Museum which trigger a great granddaughter’s journey to rewrite how Aboriginal people are represented in Australia’s public history. Her Name is Nanny Nellie offers a profound personal window into a national story, with global consequences for colonial museum collections everywhere.
Living Black
Monday 22 January at 8.40pm on NITV
Walkley award-winning journalist and executive producer Karla Grant presents a special episode examining how Australia found itself voting on a Referendum for a Voice to Parliament six years after the concept was originally rejected by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Now in the wake of referendum’s defeat, Karla takes a look back at how we reached this historic result and asks, was this referendum never meant to happen?
The Drover’s Wife
Thursday 25 January at 8.30pm on NITV and on SBS World Movies on Saturday 27 January at 8.30pm.
Leah Purcell’s award-winning film is Australia’s first feature film with an Indigenous woman writing, directing and performing the lead role.
Molly Johnson’s husband is away droving sheep, leaving her alone to care for their four children in the remote Snowy Mountains. Despite being heavily pregnant, Molly keeps various threats, from nature and other people, at bay. But when Yadaka, an Aboriginal man on the run from white law enforcement, intrudes on the sanctuary she has carved out, the brutal hardships and secrets that have followed them both throughout their lives must be confronted.
NITV News
Friday January 26 with two-minute updates hourly from 2pm and a one-hour bulletin from 5.30pm.
Coverage and updates across broadcast and digital platforms provide ongoing reporting and insight on the day’s events from every state and territory, led by NITV News presenter and Head of Indigenous News and Current Affairs, Natalie Ahmat, a proud Mudburra and Wagadagum woman. The one-hour program will look at how communities across the country are marking the day and will be co-hosted by John Paul Janke.
SBS On Demand will feature a curated Always Was, Always Will Be collection of programming. 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 Strait to the Plate. From 12.15pm,SBS VICELAND will air Sing About This Country.
SBS Audio will cover January 26 in more than 60 languages, with stories exploring Australia’s diverse communities’ perspectives on the day, deepening understanding and connections with First Nations peoples among multicultural communities.
SBS Learn will showcase Always Was, Always Will Be teaching resources exploring the histories, languages and cultures of Australia’s First Peoples. 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.
