In a touching gesture, guests at this year’s NAIDOC Week celebration were given detailed message sticks designed and created by youth of the Banksia Hill and Rangeview Remand Centres.
The message sticks were individually handcrafted and featured an array of traditional and non-traditional artwork. All were customised and contained personal messages – made all the more poignant considering their origin.
Marie Taylor, from Curtin’s Centre for Aboriginal Studies, was so impressed with the message sticks that she paused before commencing the Welcome to Country to send her own message back to the kids that made them.
This year’s NAIDOC Week event was held at the University’s Centre for Aboriginal Studies, and was jointly sponsored by the Department of Human Services agencies Centrelink, Medicare and the Child Support Agency. Over 120 guests were entertained by Aboriginal dancers, singers and guest speakers.
This is the third year that Curtin and the Department of Human Services have jointly promoted NAIDOC Week. The theme for this year was Honouring our Elders, Nurturing our Youth.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1htwUWkUAkA[/youtube]
