Echuca College hosted a NAIDOC Week luncheon on Friday, July 19, assisted by Njernda and its Koorie engagement support officers.
The event provided an opportunity for First Nations staff and students to celebrate their culture, with activities facilitated by the Njernda Aboriginal Corporation men’s and women’s groups, as well as guest speakers.
Njernda social and emotional wellbeing officer and Yorta Yorta woman Lilly Dodds led jewellery-making, using a Yorta Yorta weaving design.
“We do the weaving because it’s what we learnt at a women’s group we held in March, our Elders taught us that,” she said.
“It’s just continuing that practice.
“It is a Yorta Yorta design, other nations use this design, but I learnt from a Yorta Yorta Elder, I’m a Yorta Yorta woman.
“It’s usually not as appropriate if I were to learn from a different culture than my own and share that practice because it’s not mine to share.”
Echuca College regularly holds sessions with its Indigenous leadership team, a group of students who work together to create initiatives and advocate for the school’s First Nations community.
“While there are teachers in attendance, it’s all driven by the kids,” Echuca College inclusion support leader Carlie Jones said.
“The kids have the final say, they make recommendations or requests that I take or students can take to the principal.
“Largely the focus has been on getting ready for 2025 and do some curriculum reviews, having more First Nations perspectives front and centre in the curriculum.
“Not tokenistic, really embed it and get it happening.”
There are 92 Indigenous students at Echuca College, with around 30 to 35 from all-year groups who regularly attend the meetings.
“It’s all about having some laughs and getting to know each other in a safe spot,” Ms Jones said.
Students in the Indigenous leadership team have been able to organise and attend a range of events through their participation in the group. They do their best to balance these commitments with their studies.
“We usually discuss activity days we can do,” student Saraiah Macumber said.
“We’ve had lots of uni talks (learning about) different pathways ... there are lots of careers expos.
“We always make sure that they’re not on days where we don’t have to be at school.”
Njernda staff members enjoy working with students and the younger generation, teaching them about their culture through events like the NAIDOC Week luncheon.
The organisation has big plans for 2024, its 50th anniversary, like creating a space in the bush for women’s groups to meet.
“Njernda own it, and we can go out there and creating a women’s gathering space,” Njernda’s Tegan Wanganeen said.
“It’s about getting back to country, being together and having food, doing all this kind of stuff and having all the girls with us.
“It’s about making sure everyone’s wellbeing is up and making sure we support everything that they do.
“I love coming to the schools.”