Aboriginal Student Program

Welcome to Country Smoking Ceremony

Trinity College had a welcome to country smoking ceremony to welcome the Aboriginal students to the new school year. Jayden Boundry conducted the ceremony, welcoming staff, students and parents in language before a traditional smoking ceremony.

The smoking ceremony is a traditional Noongar ritual used to not only cleanse and purify a specific area but it cleanses the spirit, body and soul whilst you are on Noongar Country. It also helps to ward off warra wirrin – bad spirits and to bring in the blessings of the kwop wirrin – good spirits.

The group then moved to the river to the Sand and Water Ceremony. By holding some sand from the foreshore of the waterbody, participants are guided to release the sand into the water to let the Waugal (a snake or rainbow serpent in Aboriginal Dreamtime), know of your presence. The Waugal is recognised as the giver of life, maintaining all fresh water sources.