By Oliver Lees
Visitors at the Hume Global Learning Centre were treated to a performance from an Indigenous dance collective to mark the beginning of National Reconciliation Week late last month.
Indigenous Outreach Projects (IOP) is a national collective of culturally diverse people that specialises in engaging youth, particularly in Indigenous communities, through music and dance projects.
Using the medium of hip hop dance, as well as performing an acknowledgement of country, IOP team manager Michael Farah said he was “super proud” of the group’s performance.
“It was fantastic, even with social distancing there were lots of elders and local people and off duty police too,” Mr Farah said.
“Our performances are all about getting people engaged, people have a fear of standing up and letting people know they are proud.
“We do it through music because everyone loves music, they are easily inspired by it.”
With the motto, ‘no shame, be proud, respect’, the organisation provides week-long music video production courses and dance lessons to reaffirm community respect and understanding of Aboriginal culture.
Mr Farah said National Reconciliation Week helps contribute to a positive dialogue.
“Let’s get people’s confidence up and start up a dialogue about how our culture is something to be proud of,” he said.
“It’s about changing people’s mindset. We have this common thing that ties us back thousands of years, how cool is that?”
For more information on IOP programs, visit: www.indigenousoutreach.org/
