Darebin Schools NAIDOC Yarning Conference at Bundoora Park Farm
Published on 20 November 2024
At the 7th annual Darebin Schools NAIDOC Yarning Conference at Bundoora Park Farm last month, more than 470 Year 5 students from 21 Darebin schools learnt about truth-telling and the history and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
There were four overall themes to this year’s Yarning Conference to deepen exploration of the NAIDOC theme KEEP THE FIRE BURNING - BLAK, LOUD AND PROUD. These themes included learning about the First People’s Assembly and their work towards Treaty in Victoria and the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s work as the first formal truth-telling of injustices experienced by Aboriginal people.
The excitement and energy of the program of the Yarning Conference has been built through seven years of continuous collaboration with Traditional Owners, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People; Aboriginal Elders, educators, advocates and representatives of community-controlled organisations and Darebin Aboriginal Advisory Group. Darebin Council is honoured to have these partnerships.
3KND leaders hosted the whole program and three First Peoples’ Assembly members spoke with the children about their role and work towards Treaty. Uncle Bill Nicholson Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Elder guided and culturally held the program of the whole day, beginning with a Welcome to Country ceremony and ending the day with a farewell smoking ceremony as the student returned to their schools.
One of the most special parts of the program this year was when Aboriginal students from two of Darebin’s primary schools stood on stage and recited their own poems about truth-telling, and also one of the children sang Uncle Archie Roach’s song, Took The Children Away. Uncle Bill stood with the children to honour their courage. In the evaluation feedback that Council has received from students across many schools, the courage of these children to stand on the stage and address all of them, is vivid and strong.
All the students participated in eleven joyful, dynamic, interactive cultural workshops led by cultural educators ranging on themes from Caring for Country, artmaking, media and finding your voice, Trad Games, Walking Country and dance – and all led by generous Aboriginal cultural educators.
Before attending the Yarning Conference, the schools and students were engaged in pre-Conference learning to prepare for their full participation in the event.
This year, the learning included a song by Black Fire, called Talkin’ Treaty. Grant Hansen, the song writer and performer and Manger of 3KND led all the children in song, and they sang with enthusiasm and joy, all of them.
The students came to the Yarning Conference with their art posters on the theme of Solidarity ready for their own NAIDOC march. This was also a significant part of the pe-Conference learning program.
The video and posters that we have placed below for your viewing show the energy and vibrancy of the voices of children walking in solidarity. Here are some of the words by the students on their posters: Solidarity is RESPECT and WE HAVE a VOICE - listen!
Listen to some of the students recite their poetry on our YouTube channel.
You can watch the video from the day online.
Or you can take a look at some beautiful photos on our Facebook album from the day by photographer James Henry
To find out more or get involved next year check out our Darebin Schools NAIDOC Yarning Conference event page or contact us at Community.Wellbeing@darebin.vic.gov.au