Empowering students

To be active learners

During week 6, three lucky Year 7 students were invited by the Aboriginal Educational Consultative Group (AECG) to take part in the Dharawal Language and Culture Camp. The AECG is a not for profit Aboriginal organisation that prides itself on student cultural engagement through community elders and connection to country. The Dharawal Language Camp involved both primary and secondary students from across all NSW to take part in two days of traditional ceremony, cultural activities and Aboriginal dance.

Surrounded by beautiful nature and scenery, deep in the Royal National Park, students were greeted with a traditional Aboriginal smoking ceremony by Uncle Ingrey and Uncle Shayne Williams.  A smoking ceremony represents the cleansing of evil spirits and wishes of good will, thus setting the inviting tone of the cultural camp.

After an informative yarn and introduction with elders and camp leaders, students settled into their cosy cabins and set off for a day full of activities. Students participated in a Dharawal language lessons and practiced their Dharawal speaking skills with Aunty Petra and later, got to  handle artefacts and learn their traditional names. After a delicious lunch of burgers and Milo, students practiced their cooking skills by making fresh damper that we would later eat for afternoon tea.  Later in the afternoon, we were given the chance to work off all the food with traditional dancing workshops, presented by David from the Gamay Dancers of La Perouse and Raymond from the AECG (NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Inc) .   We learnt the Marida dance known as the Sea Eagle.

Once the sun was setting, so was the temperature.  Luckily we had a camp fire to sit around and partake in an evening yarn with elders. Here students were entertained by traditional Aboriginal dancers, which we later joined in and also got to handle traditional hunting tools. Ricky Hextall (Year 7) claims

“ it was interesting seeing the hunting tools Aboriginal people used to hunt food”.

As dawn arose, so did another day of jam packed activities. We spent the morning building on our knowledge of Dharawal culture through a walk around the National Park with Elder Uncle Rodney. Students then took part in flag painting and shell work as well as weaving. Tallara Chandler (Year7) exclaimed “I enjoyed the weaving activity and the bracelets I made.  Our final activity and highlight for most campers was the spear throwing.  After an informative and impressive presentation, students got to partake in spear throwing. Tyler Russell and Ricky Hextall even hitting the bullseye a couple of times.  Go boys!

The Dharawal Language and Culture Camp could not have been possible without the Yarn program Cecil Hills High School proudly runs. Working closely with the NSW AECG  allowed  our students to embody their proud Aboriginal heritage.  Students were given the opportunity to learn from elders in the community about respect, self-determination and proudness in their culture. All whilst making new friends from schools across NSW.

Thank you to the AECG NSW Inc for organising such a wonderful and important camp for our Aboriginal students. On behalf of all the Aboriginal students at Cecil Hills High School, it was an absolute pleasure to spend time with elders and immersed ourselves in culture and language.

Tallara Chandler, Ricky Hextall, Tyler Russell - Year 7 Yarn

Ms D Kulevski - Aboriginal Coordinator