Students celebrate NAIDOC Week with new yarning circle

A new yarning circle has been unveiled at Dakabin State School to coincide with NAIDOC Week.

A number of the school’s Indigenous students attended the official opening on Monday morning, which included a visit from traditional owner and cultural educator Aunty Christine.

Aunty Christine performed a Welcome to Country and sang a song about a green tree frog in Gubbi Gubbi language before the school’s choir performed a song they learnt about the Torres Strait Islander culture.

Dakabin State School Principal Michael Drake says the yarning circle will be a educational and creative space for all students to enjoy.

“At Dakabin State School, 10 per cent of our student population identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, so the yarning circle will be a great place for them to come and sit and share stories and talk with one another,” he says.

“We wanted to have the official opening during NAIDOC Week because we thought it was an important step for us to be educating our youth about what it is to be an Indigenous Australian.

“With this year’s theme being For Our Elders, we wanted to show our Elders that we are respecting them and want to continue the work they have done.”

Throughout the week, students across all year levels will take part in several Indigenous activities including art competitions, rock paintings, art activities in classes, and even planting some Indigenous plants in the school vegetable garden.

“I also recorded a story called Silly Birds by Indigenous author Gregg Dreise so every class can watch it this week,” Michael says.

This year, NAIDOC Week was held from July 2-9, but with the school holidays, schools are celebrating this week.

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