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NAIDOC WEEK
Heal Country Stuartholme’s NAIDOC Week is a time for us as a community to celebrate our First Nations People, culture, language and acknowledge that our history needs to include the First Nations experience. Stuartholme launched NAIDOC Week with a liturgy, where the words and experiences of our First Nations students could be heard. This foundation of understanding was then built upon throughout the following week with cultural workshops held for staff and students. These workshops included:
Seminar with Tish King from Seed Mob Tish, a Stuartholme alumnae, spoke of why we need to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth to be engaged in their environment, as traditional custodians of the land and sea. Tish explained the detriments of fracking and how it is disrupting the way of life, culture and safety of remote Aboriginal communities. Our students were able to ask Tish what they could do to support our First Nations People and how to be a better ally.
Bush Tucker Our students learnt about Bush Basil, otherwise known as Ocymum Minimum, a native flora and used extensively for medical and ceremonially purposes. When the Europeans arrived in Australia the plant was nicknamed native five spice, due to the complexities of scents and flavours in contains. It is best described as a combination of sage, mint and basil. Our students were able to sample some Bush Basil cordial and Bush Basil pesto, whilst learning about the traditions and meaning of this plant.
Yuggera Language Class Did you know that the Turrbal language has around four dialects, two of which are no longer practised? Did you know that the phrase ‘hard yakka’ comes from the Yuggera word ‘yaga’ meaning work/strenuous? Did you know we use Turrbal and Yuggera dialect words nearly every day, as most of our suburbs are based on these languages? Our students spent some time understanding how these languages were codified, the meaning behind our suburb names and how to say hello in Yuggera and Turrbal.
Stuartholme’s Indigenous Crest JPIC have spent a year now designing and painting an Indigenous interpretation of our Sacred Heart emblem. With approval not only from Turrbal elders, but our rscJ, we have been using First Nations designs and patterns to tell the story of Stuartholme, the country we walk on called Meanjin and the Dreaming of kuta. Our students have carefully selected colours and patterns to represent our past and future in this piece. JPIC are finishing this project soon and look forwarded to gifting it to our community.
