NAIDOC Week

Wominjeka everyone,

NAIDOC Week is a special time to honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders past, present and emerging, who have worked tirelessly to create positive change in their communities. It is a celebration of their strength, resilience, and the ongoing journey toward justice, equality, and recognition of First Nations voices.

At ENPS, we believe in the importance of all students learning the truth about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures. Our students have explored the rich stories of the world’s oldest living cultures, learning about ancient civilisations, deep cultural knowledge, and the lasting impact of colonisation. They have investigated significant events and milestones, gaining insight into the strength and perseverance of Indigenous communities over time.

Through these meaningful learning experiences, our students have developed a deep respect for First Nations peoples. They are beginning to understand the importance of truth telling, connection to Country, and the power of cultural identity, fostering empathy, inclusivity, and a shared responsibility for reconciliation.

This year’s NAIDOC Week theme: “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy” invites us to honour the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, activists, and leaders who have paved the way for change, while inspiring young people to carry that legacy forward.

At ENPS, our students have been encouraged to reflect on the impact they can have and the legacy they can help shape for generations to come.

Please read on to discover how year levels celebrated NAIDOC Week at ENPS. As an inclusive school community, we remain committed to respecting the diversity and deep history of Australia’s First Peoples and to protecting the sacred land we all share today.

Sharon McWhinney

Intercultural Coordinator

Foundation

In Foundation we have learnt about the importance and meaning of NAIDOC week. We know it is a time to reflect on the past and look to the future. We celebrate the history and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We have explored some dreamtime stories such as ‘The Rainbow Serpent’, ‘Tiddalick the Frog’ and ‘Where is Galah?’.

We created a Tiddalick hand puppet with our buddies, a coiled rainbow serpent and created a landscape picture to show our connection to Country.

Year One and Year Six

Year One and Year Six connected over NAIDOC Week during our buddy session. We learnt about the history and importance of NAIDOC Week to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Together we read the picture book “Our Dreaming” and reflected on the importance of story telling in Indigenous cultures. 

We looked for examples of words from the Gundungurra language in the book. The traditional lands of the Gundungurra people are in south-east NSW. 

We then used researched language words of the Wurundjuri people and their English translations to share and display.

Year Two

In Year Two we found out that NAIDOC Week is a  time to celebrate and learn about aboriginal history and culture. We learnt that this year’s theme is Strength, Vision and Legacy and we explored each of these. 

Strength: One way to STRENGTHEN our understanding of Aboriginal culture and language, is to learn more about Australia’s first peoples.

We read ‘Sea Country’ by Aunty Patsy Cameron and Lisa Kennedy and looked for examples of aboriginal language and culture within the text.

Vision: We discussed our VISION for caring for the country by sitting in a yarning circle and discussing why our country is important and how we can protect it. 

Legacy: We found out that the history of First Nations people are passed down through generations in songs, art, music, ceremonies. 

One tradition in Aboriginal culture was to care for a totem. A totem is a natural object, plant, or animal that is really important to a person, family or clan.

We selected our own totem animals and created an art piece representing our totem.

Year Three

In Year Three, we have been learning about NAIDOC Week. We explored why NAIDOC Week is important and what this year’s theme means. We learnt that NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate and recognise the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We watched videos and read picture story books and discussed messages about learning from the past and the importance of keeping stories and traditions alive for future generations.

As part of our inquiry, we learnt how Aboriginal people tell stories through art, using special symbols. We created our own posters and pictures to share a story using these symbols. We also explored storytelling through dance, music, and movement, and talked about the importance of listening to Elders and learning from them. Through these experiences, our Year Threes students have developed a deeper understanding of NAIDOC Week and why it is important to keep stories, culture and traditions alive.

Year Five

As part of NADIOC Week learning in Year Five, we have been listening to stories from the podcasts on the Little Yarns website. Students took notes in connection with our How We Express Ourselves unit of enquiry.