On Thursday 3 June, our Citizenship Committee recognised National Reconciliation Week with a whole school assembly. The occasion provided an opportunity for our girls to acknowledge the importance and connection that aboriginal people have with the land and to further understand their history.

I would like to acknowledge and thank Gabrielle Lawrie-Wilson, Myarn Alden, Zara Hart and Anesha Rahman, who willingly revealed their families' history and bravely shared what reconciliation means to them and why it is important.

Anesha gave the following speech:

Burany garlanda – good morning

Yaa nhundu yan.guwa? – how you going?

Nganangu ini Anesha – my name is Anesha

Ngadhu yun.gu nhundu nganagu - I give you my

Burany guwanda wiru - best wishes and spirits

Ngalimiming gami bibi, mama, yargula barna buranymarda. - Our grandmothers, mothers and fathers sacred country is good.

Good morning, how you going? My name is Anesha. I give you my best wishes and spirits. Our grandmothers, mothers and fathers sacred country is good.

The language I am speaking to you is Badimia, as I am from the Aboriginal group called Badimia which is in the Yamaji region of Western Australia. There are many different Indigenous groups with different stories, languages and situates.

To me, reconciliation means connecting with my culture on a deeper level. I am learning to share and be proud of my culture in ways that my family were not able to do. My grandpa grew up in a time when identifying as being Aboriginal was completely unaccepted due to severe racism. His mother was a part of the Stolen Generations and lived in fear of her children being removed from her and institutionalised. Due to this, my poppa couldn’t express his culture or even be remotely involved in speaking the Badimia language. This is why learning the language is so important to my connection to culture, as it helps me to feel closer to my ancestors, and actively embrace my culture that was so disapproved of in the past.

In particular the 2021 theme of Reconciliation Week is more than a word. To me, this means not just appreciating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history, but also making impactful action towards reconciliation. Using words to spread awareness is not enough without turning those words into actions and influencing change.

This theme also means building a relationship between the non-Indigenous and Indigenous communities to generate a deeper cultural understanding which can lead to more action. Connecting to culture is vital for me because it is a part of my identity. I connect with my culture through learning the Badimia language from my grandpa and mother, and reconnecting with country in Western Australia.

I also use Reconciliation Week to take the time to reflect on the strength and guidance my ancestors have given me. In addition, it is important for me to connect with other Indigenous students and listen to their journeys.

Each year I come into Reconciliation Week with a new perspective, more knowledge and cultural understanding which I aim to further develop as my cultural journey progresses.

We are incredibly proud of our girls' purist in recognising the need to take action and ensuring each of their diverse cultures is respected and celebrated.