Message Stick and NAIDOC Week

An epic journey.

Commencing in March and reaching its final destination in late October, the CSNSW Conference Message Stick is embarking on a historic journey across the Armidale Diocese.

Visiting each of the Armidale Diocesan Schools and their local Parish, the message stick has been a prompt for celebration and cultural learning both in the schools and beyond the school gate in local communities.

In all, the Conference Message Stick will travel around 1700 km as it journeys from the sprawling black soil plains of the west to the mountainous New England High Country, before completing its journey upon arriving at the venue for the Catholic Schools NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Conference, the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre.

Overview of Message Stick and NAIDOC Week activities

Educators able to use resources and activities from this slideshow for building their connection and understanding to our local area and its traditional owners the Banbai People.

Monday 1st July:
- Students introduced to Message Stick and what it represents for our experience, introduction to message sticks in terms of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Culture.
Tuesday 2nd July:
- Educators used activities and resources for learning experiences in the classrooms
Wednesday 3rd July
- Smoking Ceremony: Tremane Patterson
- Stage 2 and Stage 3 Cultural Awareness with Tremane and Nioka
- Stage 3 Weaving
Thursday 4th July
- Early Stage One and Stage One: Supported Cultural Learning Activities
Friday 5th July
- Mass for the departing Message Stick and a video of celebrating our learning departing St Mary of the Angels to head to Armidale Catholic Schools Office