HUNDREDS of St Johns Park High School students recently celebrated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture by taking part in this year’s National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week.
The festivities were launched by the school’s principal Susan French before local elder Aunty Fran gave an official welcome to country in her own tribal language, Dharawal.
After the national anthem was sung and the Aboriginal flag was raised, the students took to the conference room where Aunty Fran told traditional Dreamtime stories including Wattungoori.
A presentation of bilingual books created by the year 7 Wiradjuri language class was then made before the school’s NAIDOC poster competition was judged.
The afternoon was filled with traditional indigenous games, a film festival and a barbecue, which included samplings of distinctly Australian meats, as well as traditional sausages.
The school’s music teacher, Jay Kadar, said the taste of emu, crocodile and kangaroo created a mixed reaction among students and staff.
“The emu doesn’t taste like meat and it’s gamey . . . needs more sauce. The crocodile is mushy, tastes like a vegie burger,” he said.
Year 8 student Madison Seach said that while the emu tasted like chicken, she wouldn’t eat it again.
A highlight of the day was a performance by the Koomurri Aboriginal dancers and a didgeridoo player.
A group of four boys performed two dances — Dance of the kangaroo and the Dance of the long-necked turtle.
- This article originally appears at:
- http://www.fairfieldchampion.com.au/news/local/news/general/a-taste-of-indigenous-culture/2645371.aspx
- Article taken from the following publication:
- Fairfield City Champion
- Article submitted by:
