ACCORDING to its official website:
“For five decades, NAIDOC Week has celebrated the voices of our communities – steady, unapologetic, and proud.
“Each year, its themes have called for truth, celebrated culture, honoured resistance, and reminded the nation of who we are.”
This year’s theme was Fifty Years of Deadly and on 30 June about 600 students from all the schools in and around Gloucester gathered at the High School to celebrate and acknowledge the area’s rich Aboriginal traditions and culture stretching back for thousands of years.
As the students arrived, they were welcomed by a smoking ceremony conducted by Les Atkinson, a member of the Worimi First Peoples.
A smoking ceremony is an ancient cultural ritual that involves burning native plants to produce healing smoke and is conducted by an Elder or Cultural Knowledge Holder.
“NAIDOC week is a celebration of one of the oldest living cultures on earth and it’s an opportunity to knock down some barriers and educate people,” said Les.
One of the two High School Captains, Blake Walker, told NOTA that the day’s events involved running lots of activities involving Aboriginal people from the local community.
“To me it’s important that we acknowledge First Nations Peoples and that they play a significant part in our community,” said Blake.
High School Principal Jacqueline Dalton explained that, as part of the day’s activities, the students were creating a large Aboriginal-themed painting.
“We also have a painting on which each student can put their handprint,” said Jacqueline.
“There is leaf painting, Aboriginal language sessions, and some of our senior students are teaching boomerang throwing.
“And one of the Indigenous men is teaching us about weapons.”
The student’s hunger needs were not forgotten with the opportunity for them to taste some kangaroo and crocodile.
Student Hailey Laibry was involved in the creation of the major painting.
“The theme of the painting is basically the coming together as groups, with the rivers representing the flow of the community, and it also shows a community meeting place and the local environment,” said Hailey.
When completed the painting will be displayed in the school quadrangle.
By John WATTS
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