Celebrating our Aboriginal heritage during NAIDOC week

04/07/2012

Students participated in a range of learning activities throughout the day

The Aunties performed a dance to 'One People, One Land' at the liturgy

On Thursday 28 June, Holy Family Primary, Emerton celebrated NAIDOC Week with a special liturgy and a range of learning activities focused around the contribution made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to the national identity.

NAIDOC Week is one of the most important cultural events in the year for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and events are held around Australia from 1-8 July to celebrate Aboriginal history, spirituality, identity, culture and achievements. This year’s theme Spirit of the Tent Embassy: 40 years on celebrates the establishment of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in 1972 in becoming a powerful symbol of unity.

The school and parish of Holy Family, Emerton have a large Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and celebrated NAIDOC week with a liturgy and dance to ‘One People, One Land’ by five local Aboriginal ‘Aunties’, Janice Brown, Jenny Ebsworth, Rhonda Randall, Daisy Barker and Margaret Farrell, who have a close connection with the school. Students and parents were then treated to a musical performance by Darug singer/songwriter Jacinta Tobin, followed by a range of classroom activities led by members of the local Aboriginal community.

Student representatives from Our Lady of the Rosary Primary, Kellyville and St Mary's Primary, North Sydney joined Holy Family students for the litgurgy and participated in a range of learning activities including making a video about an Aboriginal story, canvas painting, bush tucker cooking, beading and craft, dancing and didgeridoo playing.

Holy Family’s principal, Sr Brenda Kennedy, said NAIDOC Week is an opportunity to bring peace and grow in respect and appreciation of the many gifts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples share with the community.

‘Our faith can be expressed in many ways through prayer and supporting initiatives that promote justice and equality,’ said Sr Brenda. ‘Today the spirit of the Tent Embassy lives on through our faith-filled actions as we treat each other with respect - regardless of race, culture or creed.’

‘Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters continue to model a different way of being connected to God’s creation for us and unique ways of seeing the world around us,’ she said.

In addition to participating in the liturgy and leading classroom activities, the Aunties are also creating an artwork in the playground to represent the connection of the Aboriginal community within the school. Painting every Monday for 3 hours, the Aunties are working with the students including their handprints in the work representing both faith and culture for future generations to appreciate.

The Aunties said the opportunity to work with the students provides a greater understanding of Aboriginal people and culture and brings about reconciliation and friendships.

‘This land is important to all of us and we are proud of who we are and want to encourage all students to be proud of their backgrounds,’ said Jenny Ebsworth. ‘It is about inclusion, sharing and closing the gap.’

Have look at some more photos from the day on our FACEBOOK page.

The Aunties said the opportunity to work with the students provides a greater understanding of Aboriginal people and culture and brings about reconciliation and friendships