Box Hill Institute students and staff recently celebrated Indigenous Cultural Awareness Week 2010. Celebrations were organised by Student Activities and Representative Committees (SARC) over lunchtime at the Elgar, Nelson and Whitehorse campuses.
The festival kicked off with a traditional smoking ceremony at Elgar Campus, performed by Auntie Zeta Thomson, an Elder and descendant of Wurundjeri and Yorta Yorta tribes. The smell of the burning leaves mingled with the aroma of the free BBQ, which boasted kangaroo sausages for those who were keen to sample something quintessentially Australian.
Didgeridoo player Ivan Handy provided entertainment while students tucked in to the fare, followed by a live performance by Cairns-born singer/ songwriter Andrew Namok.
The remainder of the week saw additional didgeridoo performances and BBQs, as well as an interactive display by Elder Auntie Heather Kennedy. Students were able to learn about the origins of the selection of aboriginal artefacts on display.
Students were also invited to attend free screenings of “Samson and Delilah” and “Bran Nue Dae”. These films are now available for students and staff to borrow on DVD from the Library.
In addition, local indigenous artists Uncle Doug Smith and Paula Reeve (Koori Liaison Officer, Box Hill Institute) have their paintings on display in Elgar campus library.
Shane Lawtey, Student Activities Coordinator said, “The week was a success. It was great to see so many students interested in learning more about aboriginal customs and culture and trying their hand at playing the didgeridoo and other traditional instruments on display”.