A very special Children’s Week celebration is happening in Sunbury on Sunday, October 23, hosted by Sunbury Aboriginal Corporation.
The free Bush Walk and Talk event, guided by Aunty Jo Russell, will explore The Nook in Sunbury and teach children about native plants and their uses.
Community support worker at the corporation, Kamilaroi woman Lucy Webster, said teaching young people about First Nations knowledge was vital.
“We’re going to go… have a bit of a look through some of the plants and bushes, the native wildlife there and talk about what it was being used for in the past traditionally, like bush food, traditional uses, material used for weaving and things like that,” Ms Webster said.
“It’s really important to be connected with our country, learn our histories and share that with the wider community too.”
She said the event was open to the whole community, with 60 people already registered.
“Given the history of colonisation and stolen generations, there’s been a lot of our cultural knowledge lost,” she said.
“From my perspective, teaching it to the children is most important because they can go and teach it to their families and elders.
“There are a lot of older Aboriginal people who are still traumatised by the history and aren’t as open to learning and getting involved, because of what’s happened historically.
“That’s why I think it’s so important to be engaging the youth and teaching them as much as we can.”
Registrations are required, to find out more contact 0406 174 764 or email sunburyaboriginal.efa@gmail.com
Elsie Lange
