Righting past wrongs

SHERBOOKE Community School students are taking important steps towards Aboriginal reconciliation. They welcomed Wurrundjeri tribe elder Aunty Doreen to their school last month to perform a welcome to country ceremony and discuss the history of the land.
Teacher Joanna Mogilewska said the school wanted to introduce indigenous studies into the curriculum as an important step towards reconciliation.
She said there were a number of indigenous students at the school and it was important for all children to embrace the culture.
“There needs to be cultural awareness and understanding so we can move forward,” she said.
Aunty Doreen’s visit marked a new beginning for the school. To officially acknowledge this, Aunty Doreen performed a cleansing ceremony.
The ceremony aims to cleanse the land, washing away old feelings and tensions.
Following the ceremony Aunty Doreen spent the day taking to the students about her heritage and culture. Ms Mogilewska said this was just the start of the school’s relationship with the Wurrundjeri people.