NAIDOC at Camden High School 2023

Camden High School celebrated NAIDOC 2023 – For Our Elders with a weeks worth of cultural activities and events.

We were joined on the day by local Elder Uncle Eddie Burge; Uncle Les Atkinson from Muru Mittigar; Lara George and the NRL School to Work team; ACLO Lisa Smith; Youth Solutions; local artist Danielle Mate; and Brianna Kemmerling, a NAISDA graduate and performer.
Brianna worked with our Camden South Public School/Camden High School dance group in the lead up to NAIDOC to teach the dance that was performed on the day.

Our whole school NAIDOC assembly was hosted by our deadly Year 12 team – Mikaylee, Breanna and Holly.

The celebrations and cultural activities included:

  • an interview with an up and coming First Nations NRLW player Lara George
  • a talk on boomerangs from Uncle Les Atkinson at Muru Mittigar
  • a dance performance by the Camden High School and Camden South Public School NAIDOC dance group. The dance was choreographed by NAISDA performer Brianna Kemmerling
  • the unveiling of our new school artwork, work-shopped with our students and created by Nikita Haverfield

Throughout the week, students had the opportunity to participate in various activities like:

  • art workshops with Danielle Mate
  • boomerang throwing workshops
  • NRL School to Work skills tester
  • weaving
  • bush art
  • bush tucker
  • language
  • games
  • a kangaroo sausage sizzle

The celebrations and activities were a great opportunity for our First Nations leadership team to run workshops and share their knowledge with their peers.

We send our love to Uncle Ivan Wellington and Uncle Larry Hill with who we work closely but they couldn’t join us this year.

 

Story Submitted by Amanda White from Camden High School, Published in 2023.