RECONCILIATION WEEK WRAP UP

On Tuesday, we spent the day learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture  together. Uncle Peter Button opened our day with a Welcome to Country. 

A Welcome to Country is not the same as an

Acknowledgement of Country. The Welcome to Country has been part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways for thousands of years. It can only be performed by an Elder or respected person who is from the local clan and been given permission to do so. It values Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and recognises the ancestral spirits who created the boundaries and lands, which allow safe passage to visitors. There are many ways that an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person may perform a ‘Welcome to Country’. Today, Uncle Peter welcomed us to Country, spoke to us about aboriginal culture and care for our land, and performed a didgeridoo solo. 

Uncle Mark Mongta and his son Sam conducted a smoking ceremony just before

lunch, and also cleansed our Yalunga Yarning Circle and soon to be Bush Tucker garden. 

Smoking ceremonies have been performed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for thousands of years to cleanse people and places of bad spirits and to treat sickness. These ceremonies encourage good health and wellbeing through connection to culture and the health benefits of traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medicine. They are regarded as an important part of connecting people to the country and keeping them safe from the dangerous powers of the spiritual beings residing in the land and waters.

Throughout the day, students engaged in 5 different rotations, with special visitors leading some of these including Ms Karan Taylor (CEDoW Edn Officer), Uncle Kevin Butler, Uncle Mark and his son Sam, and one of our parents Mrs Emily Johnstone. Thank you to all, and most especially to Mr Burns for consulting with our parents and elders in the local community, bringing to fruition and coordinating a significant day in our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Plan.

Dreaming Stories The Dreaming story of the Birth of the Butterfly as told by the Thurrawal (Dharawal) people. Students created air dry sculpture
Art Rock Painting Uncle Kev led this rock painting workshop. They have been sealed and will be placed into our Yalunga Bush Tucker & native Garden
Yalunga Garden Bush Tucker Workshop Students engaged in learning about Bush Tucker and the plants we will have in our Yalunga Garden. Highlights included smelling & tasting Lemon Myrtle cordial, pigface, mintbush, mountain pepper and saltbush.
Yulunga Games Students engaged in games inspired by traditional Aboriginal culture with Mr Burns and Uncle Mark Mongta.
Artefacts & Totems Workshop Students learnt about traditional Aboriginal artefacts and Aboriginal totems with Ms Karan Taylor (CEDoW Edn Officer)

From our students….

I liked seeing the artefacts of mens and womens business, and how they used the bark of a tree to make a cradle for their babies- Marley (Year 1)

I enjoyed the Bush Tucker and how we were able to learn about the different plants and taste some of the Lemon Myrtle cordial - August (Year 2)

I liked learning about the Dreamtime story about the butterfly, and learning about the Bush Tucker plants we will have in our Yalunga Garden- Grace (Year 4)

I liked learning about aboriginal culture through the artifacts, and loved doing to rock painting - Fletcher (Year 3)

I liked how we got to learn how aboriginal people lived before European Settlement and also learning about Bush Tucker - Patti (Year 5)

Clean up your rubbish and put it in the right bin - Arie (Year 3)

Always take 3 (pieces of rubbish) from the sea - Ferdie (Year 4)

Stop polluting. Save the world - Sadie (Year 5)

We need to look after trees and plant more instead of getting rid of them - Nate (Year 6)