Local Indigenous Elders have passed on some of their knowledge over two days of sharing with Katherine students in a new school program.
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The Katherine school students were excited to be invited to an Indigenous classroom on country in a new cultural program.
Last week the Banatjarl Strongbala Wimuns Grup, as part of Jawoyn Association, had two days sharing, learning and immersing in cultural activity with 71 students from Clyde Fenton Primary School.
Two excursions included travelling to the Banatjarl Family Healing Centre and Bush Medicine Garden at King Valley and also to the shady riverbank of the Katherine Gorge at Nitmiluk.
Cultural activities included learning about the importance of smoking ceremony, bush medicine making, weaving, storytelling, singing songs in language and exploring the 'bush medijin and bush tucker garden'.
The Banatjarl Wimins Grup, made up of traditional cultural Elders and women, are dedicated towards sharing culture and passing on cultural knowledges - particularly inclusive of children and youth.
The Elders want culture to be taken seriously and the knowledge recognised as a valuable and essential part of our educational learning, healing and connection in our communities.
Clyde Fenton students and teachers embraced every part of this unique experience and honoured the women with a specially made lunch and many thanks.
The Banatjarl women offer a unique, authentic opportunity for deeper cultural connection, learning and understanding.
Clyde Fenton principal Jeff Parker said: "I firmly believe that the path to reconciliation is through sharing our stories.
"You can't appreciate or respect another culture if you don't know anything about it. To learn we need to listen. To teach we need to share.
"Through the sharing of our stories two cultures can understand each other and work together to achieve common goals, whilst respecting each other's differences.
"It was great to see little 6 and 7 year old children sitting down with the Banatjarl women and doing just that, sharing knowledge and language and experiences.
"The Banatjarl Strongbala Wimun Grup are so gentle, good humoured and enthusiastic that every child was included and engaged. I hope we can continue and expand this fantastic collaboration."
"Why can't we just go to King River every day?" Jonte Brooks-Parker said.
"It was good learning to make bush medicine," Aleece Reed said.
"It was so nice and quiet out there," Justin Brown said.
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