National Indigenous Television (NITV) is set to broadcast the funeral of Widjabul Wieybal woman from the Bundjalung nation, Rhoda Roberts, AO on Tuesday before beginning a week of special programming honouring her life and work.
The funeral service will be shown live from St Carthage's Cathedral in Lismore on Bundjalung Country from 12:15pm AEDT on Tuesday, 31 March.
The coverage will air on NITV and SBS On Demand, and on NITV's YouTube channel.
Mudburra and Wagadagam woman and NITV Head of News and Current Affairs Natalie Ahmat and SBS and NITV National Indigenous Affairs Editor John Paul Janke will present the broadcast.
The broadcast is being carried at the request of Ms Roberts' family to make the farewell accessible to the many people and communities connected to her life and work.
Later that night, NITV will begin 'Rhoda Roberts AO: A Lasting Legacy', a seven-day tribute running from Tuesday 31 March to Monday 6 April.
The collection will focus on Ms Roberts' contribution across culture, theatre, arts, dance, media, journalism and public life, including her role as SBS's inaugural Elder in Residence.
Each night will open with an introduction from Birri and Guugu Yimidhirr woman and SBS Director of First Nations Tanya Denning-Orman, who will reflect on Ms Roberts' impact and the significance of each program.
She said the week would honour both the farewell and the legacy Ms Roberts leaves behind.
"On Tuesday, we come together to farewell Rhoda, guided by her family, her community and her spirit," Ms Denning-Orman said.
"We are honoured to share this moment with people across the country and around the world, for all those who walked with her, learned from her, and who want to come together to say goodbye, in keeping with the wishes of Rhoda and her family."
The tribute week begins on Tuesday night with 'Forever Held in Country', a slow television program tracing Ms Roberts' connection to Bundjalung Country and her role in making Welcome to Country part of national life.
On Wednesday, NITV will screen the '2024 SBS Elder In Residence Oration with Stan Grant', which features Ms Roberts reflecting on the 2024 NAIDOC Week theme and her work in the arts and journalism.
Thursday's program is 'My Cousin Frank', Ms Roberts' one-woman stage show about her cousin Francis "Frank" Roberts, Australia's first Aboriginal Olympian, and his journey through sport, injustice and resistance.
On Friday, viewers will see 'Radiance', the film linked to the Blak Theatre movement that Ms Roberts helped bring forward with Lydia Miller and the original Belvoir St Theatre production.
Saturday's screening, '2012 From the Heart of the Nation Concert', looks back at NITV's launch on free-to-air television at Uluru and Ms Roberts' role in bringing that event together with Anangu.
The Sunday program, 'Cubawee: Tribute to Rhoda Roberts AO', captures tributes from friends, colleagues and national figures following a performance of 'My Cousin Frank' at the Sydney Opera House last year.
The final program on Monday, 'Garma Bunggul', highlights Ms Roberts' role in helping elevate Yolŋu culture through her connection to the Garma Festival and its cultural vision.
Ms Denning-Orman said the collection reflected the breadth of Ms Roberts' work and what she created for future generations.
"We are also marking her extraordinary legacy with a dedicated week of programming - a time for cultural remembrance, storytelling and collective reflection," Ms Denning-Orman said.
"This collection is a tribute to her passion, fierce advocacy and enduring commitment to creating pathways for the next generation, and all she has left for us to carry on."
After the tribute week, the full 'Rhoda Roberts AO: A Lasting Legacy' collection will be available on SBS On Demand, with encore screenings also scheduled on SBS throughout April.
