Captains' Corner

I am a proud Kuku Yalanji and Gunngalida woman. I descend from my grandparents' country – on my mother's side from the beautiful Bloomingfield River region, including the Daintree National Park and stretching from Mossman just north of Cairns up to the Annan River just south of Cooktown. On my father’s side, my grandparents' country is the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Clayfield College’s NAIDOC week celebrations were held this week, including some very special and rich cultural activities open to the whole College community. NAIDOC is a significant week for me and my Indigenous peers, as we get to embrace our culture and teach non-indigenous students and teachers about our stories, traditions, lore, and ceremonies. 

NAIDOC is such a proud and special moment for me, being the only Aboriginal woman in Year 12, I must set the standard of NAIDOC to the younger generations and be a leader for them. This is an amazing opportunity for me to come together with teachers and make a memorable NAIDOC week for everyone.

To start our NAIDOC week we had Uncle Alex, a traditional owner of the Turrubal land that Clayfield stands on, come in and do a smoking ceremony, welcoming us to his land. He shared stories and taught different words in an Indigenous language that mean certain landmarks and animals.

We had Aunty Annai and Aunty Crystal come in and make some delicious Torres Strait Islander food for everyone to eat, including couscous, vermicelli chicken, damper and rice; the main meals eaten by the Torres Strait Islander people. Damper has been eaten Australia-wide for thousands of years; it is a slow-cooked loaf of bread that sits in the bottom of the coals of a fire wrapped in tin foil, or more traditionally, banana leaves.

On Thursday, we had our whole-school Assembly where the Aboriginal students performed a dance which was culturally significant to the Brisbane region. The Torres Strait Islander students, led by Neveah Mills, performed a special dance from the Torres Strait. This was followed by Dr Leah Talbot, who gave a speech on what NAIDOC means to her. Dr Talbot has worked at Australia’s leading scientific institution the CSIRO as an environmental cultural scientist for years, which is where she earnt her PhD. She looks closely at the legislative requirements and how First Nations people make decisions about their lands and sea according to their cultural responsibilities.

On Friday, we have a whole-school painting project! Abi Carr, our College Captain, has helped me sketch a copy of an Indigenous print artwork that was created by every student in the College. It was amazing to see each student in the Primary and Secondary School embrace the NAIDOC spirit by adding a thumbprint to the artwork.

I am beyond honoured that I was a part of making NAIDOC week a week to be remembered by everyone. I am so deeply proud of my culture and will do anything for my people to be recognised not only on special occasions but every day.

Thank you!

Juilianna