For our Elders

Why I am Proud to be Aboriginal

I am proud to be Aboriginal for many reasons. Those include: our culture is the oldest one alive, our people still survive throughout all the damage that has been done and that it is just beautiful. Our culture has dances, art, dreamings, stories and even music! It’s one thing about me that I wouldn’t change for any amount of money. 

I love being Aboriginal because everyone looks different and we all are just Aboriginal, we don’t have a specific look, we are Aboriginal because of our blood, not our skin. I love my culture as well as my ancestors that come before me, I love my family and I love my land. 

I am glad that I came to this school, because I have learned new things about myself as well as the past of our people. I have learned what we have gone through just to be treated as equals, I have learned that some parts of history that I was taught was wrong.

Our people make a small amount of the population on this island, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t matter. 

I am proud because I am part of a group of people that are proud, not just because they’re Aboriginal, but because they know that we are beautiful people. 

I am proud.

Allina, Year 7

I am proud of who I am and where I come from. My family means the most to me and I am proud of doing arts with my parents and grandparents in their art studio. 

I am proud to be Aboriginal because in our culture elders are very important to us and our elders are to be treated with highest level of respect. They know everything from land, culture, knowledge and ceremonies. Our people have seen lots of changes throughout their lives.

I am proud to be part of the Gurindji mob with leaders who are strong in my community.

Dylena, Year 7

I’m proud to be Aboriginal because we are the longest living culture, we can talk many different languages and I get to live in the bush and learn how to hunt, catch fish and learn some very interesting facts about us.

We have so many sacred sites and a significant site in my culture is Uluru. I love going there and I get to see so many different cultures coming to see, explore and learn about Uluru.

Sophie, Year 7

Why the theme is important to me this year

This year’s theme is important to me because, my dad’s, mum’s mum is very important to me, I call her my chi cha- which means sister. In my culture we call my nana’s mum chi cha and the reason I chose her is because she was a role model to me, she’s someone I look up to and she is a very strong and smart Aboriginal woman. 

She showed me my land, my Totem, who I am and where I’m from and my identity. She shared who my family name’s are and sang our stories about my country. That’s why I chose her, because she was a big part of my life.

Ricky, Year 7

Our elders are very important because they are the ones who passed on our stories, culture, dreaming and even art. Our elders show us our land and tell us the mobs that we come from, they tell us what it was like for them growing up and even about their parents and grandparents. Our elders teach us the proper ways of hunting, fishing and surviving bush, they show us the ways of the land and what we do if we get lost out at bush.

Our elders support and encourage us through our life decisions and during the choices we make. Elders understand the deep meanings in our culture.

Latia, Year 7