I acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Wiradjuri people. This column is dedicated to those who have gone before us, to those present and to those who will follow us.
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NAIDOC: what does it mean? Is it important?
NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Indigenous Australians.
NAIDOC is about showing the world what Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders can do, not what we can’t do. It is a way of showcasing the amazing culture, language and heritage of a very diverse and ancient group of mayiny (people).
Madhu (many) schools, communities, elders’ groups, Aboriginal Lands Councils, local councils and more, all have events that celebrate NAIDOC Week. That is what NAIDOC Week is all about.
Is it important? Ngawa (yes). I go to madhu (many) schools to yalmambirra (teach) Wiradjuri language, culture and heritage. The schools that I engage are very passionate about learning about our First Nations People.
Today’s students and teachers are lucky to learn about this. When I was in school, I was not taught anything about Wiradjuri mayiny (people). I was not taught about ngaligin-gu gunhi dhalany (our mother tongue). I was not told about ngaligin-gu mayiny (our people). I was, however, very fortunate that my family kept me connected and engaged in my Wiradjuri culture.
This week I have yarra (talked) and wudhagarbinya (listened) to madhu (many) students in madhu (many) schools in Wiradjuri ngurambang (country).
We have laughed, waga-dhi (danced), and been maguwar (happy) to share. Not one of those schools has engaged in Wiradjuri culture to just tick boxes. They have all truly engaged and have wanted to yalbilinya (learn) about Wiradjuri history, culture and language.
One school at, melnunnie dhaagun (red earth) or a place known as Red Bank (Hillston), did something that just made me so proud. After I had yarra (talked) to some students about Wiradjuri scar trees, what they are and why they were made, they went out with their teacher to do some research in a nearby paddock.
The teacher came back in to the classroom and said, “I need to show you something”. We yanhanha (walk) to the nearby paddock and there was a Wiradjuri scar madhan (tree) that the yalmambirra (teacher) and students had found.
That just made my yiradhu (day).
