Over the last two weeks I have been lucky to be invited to Wagga High, Forest Hill Primary, Mount Austin Public and North Wagga Public schools to talk about NAIDOC and Wiradjuri cultural and language.

I go to these schools not as an Elder nor an expert, but merely as a Wiradjuri Gibirr (man) who is passionate about sharing what I know about my culture.

When I yarn to the madhu mayiny (many people) at these large schools I see every pair of miil (eyes) looking at me with wonder and madhu (many) questions.

I yarn to each person about who Wiradjuri mayiny (people) are, where we have come from, and where we are going.

I explain to the young ones that they are our future, they are our doctors, nurses, mechanics, teachers, builders and future leaders.

What they learn, or do not learn, will make them who they are in the future. It is hard to understand all of this when you are just young and busy growing up and trying to find your way in life. But for thousands of years Aboriginal people have prepared our youth for what they must face.

To think that Aboriginal people have walked and lived with dinosaurs is just amazing. To know that Aboriginal people had survived the last ice age, is just mind blowing.

To know that we have people that have been dated at over 60,000 old, is just something to behold.

Every gudha (child) has the right to grow strong, proud and happy. Every gudha (child) has the right to know of their culture, past and future.

As a parent, I’m not perfect, but I’m willing to learn and try to do better. Isn’t this what we ask of our gudha (children) to try and if you fail, try again?

Being a parent didn’t come with an instruction manual, a step-by-step DVD to better parenting, or a return to sender sticker. But being a parent is more than just being gunhi (mum) or babiin (dad) It is about being a teacher, referee, counsellor and a mate.

For over 60,000 years Aboriginal people have taught our young to respect, love and care for each other and for Ngurambang (country) It is now up to us as parents, uncle and aunties, friends and family to see that our family units are strong and deadly.

I go back to the start of my yarn today, I go back to the youth of today who so badly need us to protect and love them. If we want to be good Aboriginal role models, if we want to be good Australian people role models, then we need to lead by example. We need to Yalmambirra (teach) our next generation of leaders, parents and community people to stand tall, proud and together.

For more learning and sharing go to my Facebook community page at www.facebook.com/WiradjuriMob