Culture, Land and Community

As we are making our way through 2021, we are steadily increasing the student numbers in our cohort with the induction process. An integral part of this process is the involvement of local elders who offer invaluable cultural knowledge and the ability to place local and Wesley students on-country by affirming their cultural relationships to each other. Elders representing Bunuba, Gooniyandi, Nyikina, Walmajarri and Wankatjunka language groups who live in communities around Fitzroy Crossing often spend 3 days with our new students speaking about their own stories as well as giving lessons around skin groups, kinship ties and bush foods. 

For the local students who are not from the Fitzroy Valley, this involvement provides a cultural safety net by ensuring that they understand the unique culture of the Valley, as well as often linking them through kinship connections that run across the country. It is always special for the entire school staff group to see how knowledgeable and comforting the elders are when providing this invaluable information. Not only do the elders enjoy coming out to Yiramalay and visiting their beautiful Bunuba country, but they bring a special energy to the school which all members of our community highly respect. 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank elders Kaylene Marr, Marilyn Oscar, Camillia Rogers, Susan Hoad, Helen Malo, Edna Cheryl, Olive Knight, Mervyn Street, and Jimmy 'Dillon' Andrews for sharing their culture, land and community with us. 

Toby Tracy, Community Engagement Officer