On Friday 28th June between 10am and 2pm, Central Yorke School held a NAIDOC Day Celebration for all students and community. It was a little earlier than the official NAIDOC Week of July 7-14 but we wanted our school to be able to share a day of learning, understanding and celebrating Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander culture, history and achievements.
Voice, Treaty and Truth
This year’s theme was ‘Voice, Treaty, Truth.
‘Voice’ highlights the importance of Aboriginal people’s voice and for us to be heard.
‘Treaty’ emphasises that it’s time for discussion on an official treaty and true acknowledgement as traditional owners of this country of which we are the oldest living culture.
‘Truth’ reminds us that it is time to tell the true history of Australia and that history including the truth of the impact of colonisation and that there are many stories still that need to be told in order for us to work together for a shared future.
This year is also the United Nations International Year of Indigenous Languages and it was great to see our students using and sharing Narungga language on the day.
Opening Ceremony
We began the day with an opening ceremony in the Performing Arts Centre.
- Welcome to Country in Nharrangga Warra (Narungga language) – Sonya Rankine
- What is NAIDOC Week and the 2019 Theme – Sonya Rankine
- Principals Welcome – Grant Keleher
- Guest speaker – Nikki Ashby (Narungga performer/choreographer)
- Performance – ‘Of Desert And Sea’ Aboriginal Contemporary Dance Group
- Performance – Year 4 class led by Isis Schulte performing Gagga, Wirri, Madda,
- Dhidna (Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes) in Narungga language
- Performance – Point Pearce Junior Primary class performing Incy Wincy Wagu (Incy Wincy Spider) in Narungga language
Activities
NAIDOC themed Activities were held in the gym, on the Primary oval near the nature playground, on the basketball courts and in the Performing Arts Centre. These included art, craft, football, basketball, quizzes, skill testing and dance workshops. We would like to thank all of our guests who came and made our day truly special and deadly!
- Nikki Ashby
- ‘Of Desert and Sea’ dance group
- Kadina Aboriginal Education Team
- Yungorrendi Student Engagement, Flinders University
- Flinders Uni Rural Health Society, Flinders University
- Wirringka Student Services, UniSA
- Sonder, Close the Gap
- SAASTA
- Puyu Blasters, Aboriginal Health Council SA
- Shine SA & SAPOL
- CYS Parents & Friends morning tea
- Narungga Nations Aboriginal Corporation sponsorship
- National NAIDOC Grant
A big thank you to the CYS staff and students who were absolutely amazing on the day. You all should be proud of how the NAIDOC Day Celebration was embraced and respected.
Sonya Rankine
Aboriginal Community Education Officer