Cultural Immersion

Yaama ngindaay-uu, (Hello to you all,)

Chastity and I went to the Wii Gaay learning hub last week. It was an unforgettable journey of learning, laughter, and storytelling on Country. From the peaceful waters of Bongil Bongil Creek to the high-tech excitement of the laser tag battlefield, AEA's and our young people immersed themselves in culture and learning.

We started our journey by connecting to the beautiful landscape of Bongil Bongil Creek. Walking on Country allowed us to slow down, listen to the land, and learn about the deep cultural significance of the waterways and native plants. It was a powerful reminder of our ongoing connection to culture and community.

History came alive during our visit to the Yarril museum. We explored local archives, artefacts, looked at historical photographs, and listened to the stories of those who walked before us. Seeing these pieces of our history firsthand sparked deep conversations and inspired everyone to think about the legacies we want to leave behind.

The energy levels soared with an epic, high-stakes game of laser tag! Teamwork and strategy were on full display as everyone navigated the course. Alongside the fast-paced games, we participated in traditional cultural activities, ga ga ball, including weaving, artifact handling, and sharing stories around the fire.

One of the most inspiring parts of Wii Gaay was our creative writing workshops. Year 4's have native animals, year 5's traditional weapons and year 6's have deadly role models. Our youth are learning how to turn their personal experiences, cultural pride, and vivid imaginations into powerful written stories. 

Watching them gain the confidence to become deadly authors proved that our voices deserve to be heard and we are all in.

Thank you to all the elders, mentors, teachers and organizers who made this Wii Gaay experience so purpose filled, educational, and deadly. We cannot wait for the next one!

Baay-an-dhu maliyaa. (See you soon, friends.) 

Sam Rhodes.