Recently we ran a weekly program at Nathalia Secondary School ending with a cultural excursion to the Flats for the students. Students participated in a range of cultural activities. The students were able to make traditional jewellery using emu feathers that can be worn by men and women during ceremonies.
Students also wore traditional paint, made with ochre. This helped the students feel their connection with our ancient traditions and carries deep spiritual significance.
Aunty Cheryl performed a smoking ceremony to be welcomed by our ancestors onto the land and to smoke our traditional jewellery to take this with us.
Next, the students were able to see footage of our people and the Flats in Mooroopna. The Flats became home to our people after the Cummeragunja walk off.
Finally we also got to go to the Flats and experience a tour with Aunty Cheryl and have lunch down by the river.
The whole experience helped us all have that cultural connection and feel the strength of our people, who took the steps that lead to us having the opportunities that we have today.
