Nunga News

Ninna Marni,

What a wonderful week we had last week celebrating Reconciliation Week! The week started with Bella, Jake, Mrs. Ramsay, myself and two other year 7 students from Henley Beach Primary School attending the third annual Aboriginal STEM Congress at the Adelaide Convention Centre over two days. The congress engages Aboriginal students in years 5-10 through a range of interactive, challenging and culturally relevant experiences, all related to STEM and how Aboriginal people in traditional times would use STEM in their daily lives.

Uncle Moogy and the Tal-kin-jeri dancers opened the congress with over 500 students from 140 schools across South Australia looking on. Our students experienced STEM in sport, using lasers, storytelling and technology, astronomy, colonial footprints and dreaming stories through dance and mathematics. We also had Elders sharing their stories and experiences on what it means to be powerful, Aboriginal leaders. It was an amazing experience and encouraged our students to choose STEM subjects as they move on to high school next year.

Later in the week the nunga groups from both West Beach Primary School and Henley beach Primary School attended the Reconciliation in the West community event at Tauondi College which celebrated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture through music, art, sport and cultural activities. It was a fun day with the two groups sharing stories and forming friendship that, for a few of them, will continue on to high school next year.

Lastly, our school held a Reconciliation Week assembly on Friday, starting with a Welcome to Country from Uncle Rod O'Brien who gave a great introduction to what Reconciliation means and what it means for Australia moving forward. A few classes shared their work that they've been doing in the classroom for Reconciliation Week, showing a deep understanding for what it means. Nunga group also shared where they are from, their language groups and totems. It was a proud day as the school came together to share our sad history and to celebrate our unique and wonderful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

Nukan!

Kath