Celebrating Naidoc Week With Art

Mary recently attended Giralang Primary School’s Indigenous Art Exhibition, which is part of the school’s NAIDOC Week celebrations.

“As many will know, NAIDOC Week has been established as one of the main ways in which we celebrate and acknowledge the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“Events at schools, such as this art exhibition, are essential to getting the message of NAIDOC out into the community and recognising the contribution that Indigenous people make in our community.

“I think it is also essential to recognise the commitment of Giralang Primary School, particularly its Principal, Ms Trish Keller OAM, to the cause of reconciliation,” Mary said. The school has a strong focus on reconciliation and Indigenous cultural expression across all classes in the school.

It was one of the first ACT schools to have a Reconciliation Action Plan, and the school is proud that Reconciliation Australia has used an image from the launch, held at Giralang Primary School, on their postcards which have been distributed across Australia and internationally.

“The steps which have been taken by the school will ensure that the spirit of reconciliation is embraced by all students from preschool to Year 6 and this is crucial to the reconciliation movement.

“It's fantastic the way our schools have included activities to acknowledge these events in their curriculum plans and it’s wonderful to see how schools such as Giralang Primary have included Indigenous content into their teaching and incorporated it in the school environment.

“Finally, I would like to congratulate the Wiradjuri Echoes on being awarded Artist of the Year as part of the recent NAIDOC Week Awards,” Mary concluded.

Further information about NAIDOC Week is available at www.naidoc.org.au.