NAIDOC Week: Clontarf Boys and Shooting Stars Girls at Narrogin Senior High School shine in cultural dance

The Clontarf Boys and Shooting Stars Girls at Narrogin Senior High School shone in special NAIDOC Week performances while guest elders shared cultural music, stories and food.

Jan Kickett’s famous kangaroo stew and pan damper kick-started the week, providing a culinary experience for staff that told a story of care, identity and community through food.

A whole school smoking ceremony and welcome to country led by elder Ross Storey officially began the celebrations on June 24, followed by the Clontarf Boys dance group and Shooting Stars Girls’ cleansing dance, who wore traditional dress and body paint.

The cleansing dance was dedicated to the country week hockey players to wish them well in their Perth competition starting June 30.

Founder of Gather Foods Gerry Matera and former AFL player Winston Abraham, who are both past NSHS students, spoke to students about personal tales, cultural insights and achieving future goals.

Student services events co-ordinator Narelle Eyre said the “always highly anticipated” week offered a “unique educational opportunity” to learn about Aboriginal culture, shared history and achievements from local elders.

“It provides an opportunity for the Aboriginal students to connect to their ancestors, culture and country,” she said.

“This experience fosters strong positive relationships between the Clontarf boys and the Shooting Stars Girls, the older students support and mentor their younger peers.

“It enables the students to be leaders and share their culture with each other and the whole school community.”

Year 8 students visited Dryandra with Kickett and Storey for a memorial on-country experience where they explored the Wandoo Walk learning to identify animal tracks and scats and trying their hand at boomerang and spear throwing on Wednesday.

A similar excursion enlightened the Year 7s on Friday, who focused on knowing country by exploring native flora and fauna and engaging in traditional weaving aiming to strengthen their cultural understanding and connection.

Students learnt how to make traditional damper over coals, naturally dye fabrics, traditional weaving and jewellery making.