**WARNING: THIS NEWSLETTER CONTAINS NAMES OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED AND SENSITIVE INFORMATION**

Nation Wide News:

In recent news, A significant cultural homecoming is underway as 20 precious Warumungu artefacts are making their way back to Australia from the United States. These items, including ceremonial tools and weapons, have been housed at the Fowler Museum in California for decades. Warumungu elders are overjoyed at the repatriation, describing it as a long-awaited reunion. The artefacts, which were likely taken during the construction of the Stuart Highway, will eventually be displayed at the Nyinkka Nyunyu Arts and Culture Centre, serving as invaluable educational resources for future generations. This repatriation is part of a growing movement to return stolen cultural heritage to Indigenous communities worldwide.

Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, is expected to announce her retirement in the coming days according to reports in the Sydney Morning Herald. Minister Burney, who was one of the faces of the failed Voice referendum last year, has faced a barrage of criticism in recent months about the situation in Alice Springs with both conservative politicians and Indigenous-led organisations criticising a perceived lack of action by the federal government. The Minister, of Wiradjuri and Scottish descent, has suffered a series of tragedies in her life, making her legacy even more remarkable. She lost her long-time partner in 2006, before tragically losing her 33-year-old son, Bini, in 2017. Ms McCarthy would be widely expected to be elevated to the front bench, with Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour and Victorian Senator Jana Stewart possible choices to fill the Assistant Minister's role.

Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has reached one million. This represents a significant increase of over 50,000 people since 2021. The Indigenous population is growing rapidly, particularly in major cities like Perth and Brisbane. However, the median age remains significantly lower than the non-Indigenous population, with a large proportion of children. Experts predict the Indigenous population will continue to grow, reaching nearly 1.2 million by 2031.

https://nit.com.au/25-07-2024/12704/artefacts-returned-from-us-they-belong-to-our-people https://nit.com.au/24-07-2024/12701/linda-burney-reportedly-set-to-retire-within-days https://nit.com.au/24-07-2024/12694/indigenous-population-reaches-more-than-one-million

Sports News:

Netball Australia has made a ground-breaking announcement, revealing plans for an inaugural First Nations tournament to be held in Melbourne in September. This historic event will see Indigenous representative teams from every state and territory come together for the first time, marking a significant step forward for the sport.

The tournament is the culmination of over a year's work by Netball Australia and its member organisations, and it is designed to identify and nurture First Nations talent across the country. We are talking about a pathway for young Indigenous athletes to shine, with opportunities for players, coaches, and umpires alike.

Netball Australia CEO Stacey West says this is just the beginning, with aspirations for a full-scale national First Nations netball competition in the future.

Staying with sport, there is some injury news out of the AFL. Western Bulldogs defender Liam Jones is on the verge of a return after missing the past two weeks with a knee injury. The veteran is aiming to reach the 200-game milestone this season and will be eager to get back on the park.

Meanwhile, Hawthorn's Chad Wingard is making good progress in his recovery from a calf strain but is still a couple of weeks away from returning to action. The former Brownlow Medallist is working hard to regain full fitness after a challenging year with injuries.

And finally, Collingwood forward Nathan Krueger will miss at least a week after suffering a concussion in the loss to Hawthorn.

https://nit.com.au/24-07-2024/12677/netball-australia-announces-national-first-nations-netball-tournament

https://nit.com.au/24-07-2024/12681/western-bulldogs-defender-liam-jones-set-for-return-from-knee-injury

Schoolwide Updates:

Over the school holidays, NAIDOC week (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Committee) was celebrated from the 7th-14th of July however since students and staff were not at school the decision was made to celebrate it during the first week of the term.

The college engaged in many efforts, the dreaming/dreamtime stories were displayed on the tvs located around the campus and posters detailing the information and history of NAIDOC week were also displayed around the college, music by Indigenous artists was played at the conclusion of lunch and recess, a flag with the Indigenous version of the flag was flown outside the general office, a library display was put up showcasing Indigenous art, colouring sheets were accessible during lunch/recess time for students to use, and our social media and teams channels were flooded with information about the school activities that week. Unfortunately, our Gawa trail walk has still been postponed due to poor weather conditions however we are still planning to do it just at a later date, so students and staff are more comfortable. (Editor's note: aren't our Koorie club students amazing? Well done on their commitment to continually raising awareness of our indigenous community, their triumphs and their challenges. KT)

Didge ya know?

NAIDOC week extends from the first Sunday of July through to the following Sunday. It occurs annually and is a week of celebrations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The national and state NAIDOC committees host many events including movie days, balls, award nights, and marches. The week celebrates the history, culture, and achievements of our people with many non-Indigenous people joining in the festivities as well.

NAIDOC Week was created as ‘Aborigines Day’ on the Sunday before ‘Australia Day’ until 1955 when it was moved to the first Sunday of July. It went through several changes until we saw the NAIDOC celebrations we know today.

From: https://www.vacca.org/

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Koorie Group Leaders.

Rachel Aden (Koorie Group Leader) – ADE0010@sthelena.vic.edu.au

Jamie Humphries (Koorie Group Leader) – HUM0004@sthelena.vic.edu.au

For any other support needed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples please visit: https://headspace.org.au/yarn-safe/

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