NAIDOC Day Celebrations - VOICE | TREATY | TRUTH

On Monday, the Dianella Education Precinct acknowledged NAIDOC Day. The celebrations began with a Precinct Assembly, that incorporated a Welcome to Country from Aboriginal Elder, Mr Neville Collard and an array of guest speakers including former West Coast Eagles players, Phil Narkle and James Grabski and 2019 WA NAIDOC Young Person of the Year, Effie Garlett Watson.  Middn Marr Dreaming performed the Spirit Dance and Year 12 Follow the Dream student, Lakoya Abdulla gave a rousing rendition of We Are Australian in both English and Noongar language. A smoking ceremony concluded the assembly and gave students, staff and special guests the opportunity to walk through the smoke to heal, cleanse and ward off bad spirits.  
 
The Precinct students eagerly participated in the day's many activities. The students from Dianella Primary College and Dianella Secondary College Education Support loved meeting the lizards and snakes in the reptile park and hearing Noongar stories in the library. The Dianella Secondary College students enjoyed motivational talks from Muay Thai champion, Jungle George, Noongar Dandjoo host, Neil Coyne, and Reconciliation WA chairperson, Carol Innes. Aboriginal Elder, Mr Neville Collard demonstrated traditional tool making and rock art, while Precinct AIEO, Jayden partnered with the team from Middn Marr Dreaming to teach traditional dance. AFL clinics and boomerang throwing rounded out a very full day!
 
A delicious morning tea and lunch was arranged for special guests, select students and staff, giving many their first opportunity to taste traditional ingredients such as kangaroo, emu, crocodile, pepperberry, sea parsley, salt bush, Kakadu plum, bush tomato and lemon myrtle.  Thank you to Ms Lee for preparing such a sumptuous feast.
 
Thank you to Miss Karalee Blake for organising such a wonderful day and to all our special guests for your amazing contributions.

Spirit Dance

We are Australian performed by Lakoya 

Traditional dancing with Middn Marr Dreaming