Aboriginal Art Workshop
To open NAIDOC Week at the College, the Aboriginal Education Team ran an Aboriginal Art workshop for all students during recess and lunch in the Graham Cooney Centre for Learning Diversity. The Aboriginal Liaison Officer, Amy McGuire, prepared a canvas which incorporated the 2022 NAIDOC Theme “Stand Up!, Get Up!, Show Up!”. The rest was left for students to be creative with colours as they painted Aboriginal symbols that were provided on iconography cards.
While painting, students spoke about NAIDOC Week and what they knew about NAIDOC celebrations. It was a great time to connect with the students through Aboriginal art and yarning (talking) about Aboriginal culture. The students really enjoyed painting, and when the bell went, they didn’t want to leave which was a nice feeling.
“Elders and Others” NAIDOC Week Morning Tea
On Wednesday 3 August, the College held an “Elders and Others” NAIDOC Morning Tea in the staffroom. The Aboriginal Education Team invited elders of their family, elders of the community and others who had worked with the Aboriginal Education Programme. There was catered Aboriginal food that contained traditional ingredients such as kangaroo and emu meats, Aboriginal herbs, spices, and vegetables such as bush tomato. We also had homemade kangaroo stew made by our Aboriginal staff. We opened the morning tea with a ‘Welcome to Country’ by Bruce Loo, a well-respected Nyoongar elder who is very knowledgeable about Nyoongar culture and language. Benjamin McGuire played the digeridoo for all staff and guests as they enjoyed their morning tea.
Staff said they loved the kangaroo stew and damper, that the morning tea was lovely and a good event to celebrate NAIDOC Week and the Aboriginal people who have been a part of Chisholm Catholic College over the years.
Miss Amy McGuire
Aboriginal Liaison Officer