Aboriginal Education Officer's Report
Aboriginal Education News
By Helen Wenner, WWHS Aboriginal Education Officer
Graduating Year 12 Aboriginal Students
Congratulations to Lataya Gordon and Ashily Williams on their graduation from year 12. We wish you every happiness and success in life.
Lataya Gordon
Ashily Williams
Lataya Gordon
Ashily Williams
Aspiring Young Indigenous Language Authors
Recently, several students from our Aboriginal Studies class, along with some Year 7 and 8 Art students spoke via video conference to inspirational young university student, Ms Kiara Harris about her journey to becoming an author.
Kiara is a proud descendant of the Barkindji people from the Darling River of Wilcannia. Born on Kamilaroi country at Gunnedah, Kiara lived on Wiradjuri country at Condobolin for the majority of her life as has been an active member of her community through school, work and volunteer service.
While at school, she expressed a love of Aboriginal language, especially after finding out that Barkindji language had almost become lost. Through her family and at school as part of her Aboriginal Studies classes, Kiara learnt some Wiradjuri and developed a yearning to help more young Aboriginal learn and connect with their language. So motivated and inspired was she to encourage children to learn their traditional local language, that she authored three children’s books in Wiradjuri. These included a book on numbers and counting, another about animals and the third based around the famous song, Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, all in Wiradjuri. The discussion really inspired our students and they asked Kiara if she would look over each of their books once completed. She also inspired several of our students to start working on their own versions of these books for Gamilaraay language.
Today Kiara is studying a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Canberra and is a RAS Foundation Rural Scholar.
Cassidy Attends Kruki Summer Camp
Year 9 student, Cassidy recently attended the Kruki Summer Camp at the University of New England, Armidale. Organised by the School of Rural Medicine for Indigenous high school students in Years 9–12, the program gives participants the opportunity to experience life as a first year medical student.
Stewart House Visit
Wee Waa High School have two Aboriginal students selected for an opportunity to experience Stewart House for the first time. The students’ parents are very excited about the experience that will give their children the chance to meet other students from a variety of rural NSW schools and try a range of different activities on offer at Stewart House. They’ll travel to Sydney by train and while there they will visit various sites across the city. I’m sure our students will have a great time experiencing this fantastic excursion.
Cultural Calendar
Aboriginal students in year 7 are currently involved in an educational cultural project around native plants and bush tucker food. They are learning about traditional plants and the seasons as this relates to food availability.
Northern Inland Academy of Sports
Congratulations to James Williams and Rakaia Skinner for attending and participating at the Northern Inland Academy of Sports in Moree. The students had a great time.
Sandstone Caves Excursion
In early August, our MC students travelled to the Sandstone Caves in the Pilliga Forest for a cultural excursion. It was an honour to be a part of this trip where cultural guides shared the most fascinating knowledge with us as we explored this cultural site.
The students had the chance to walk on the tracks around the caves with cultural instructor, Anna Nixon, a local Gamilaroi woman and guide, learning about different bush tucker in the area. The history information boards at the site also helped us develop our understanding, knowledge and respecting for area and the importance of this site. Anna also taught the students about different tools that were used and they experienced painting traditional hand prints with ochre.
Native Seeds
Year 7 and 8 WWHS students were given the opportunity to learn about Native Seeds and how these can be used to make flour that is much more healthy, sustainable and connected to culture. Kerrie Saunders, a local Gamilaroi women and owner of Yinarr-ma Bush Tucker tours, shared this interesting cultural and environmental knowledge so that a students may learn how to use local resources more sustainably.
Helen Wenner
Aboriginal Education Officer