SPARKING INTEREST
INDI DALY, JACK NIBLETT, NATE GOWER, IMOGEN CALLAGHAN, ARIJA SIAANA, YR 3, OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS
ON Monday September 7, year 3 had an incursion because we are learning about the First Nations people.
During the morning a group of Indigenous people came to OLHOC and they showed us some of the First Nation traditions.
The group was called Minjil and they told us about their culture.
Minjil is a Yidinji word that means a spark. They named their group “spark” because fire is important in their culture and they are introducing us to Gimuy culture which represents sharing a spark.
It was their first time presenting to a school.
The main leader was Marun, who told us his name means rain clouds. He was dressed up with white paint and played the rhythm sticks.
Two men, who were also painted white, did the dancing. Dalmin’s name means lightning and Gunyrra means crocodile.
Lastly, there was one man called Bungaroo who played the didgeridoo. His name means turtle.
First, they taught us some of the dances which were the cassowary and the sea hawk dance.
Students were chosen to go up the front and do the Gindarja dance. Marun explained how the bibara (ceremonial rhythm sticks) determine the tempo and how to move your feet.
Next, they showed us and got us to do the song “Heads, shoulders, knees and toes” in their language. Then they taught us a dance for making it rain and everyone joined in.
When Marun said “Gapan” we clapped our hands to make a rain sound. When he said “Tjikurra” we had to make the sound of thunder by stamping our feet.
At the front of the stage area in the hall were different artefacts.
First, Marun showed us how a didgeridoo is made. The piece of wood was just a tree until they cut it and then it became the first instrument made by Aboriginal culture.
They were once homes where the termites lived. The termites made it hollow the whole way through. Then when it was taken back to camp the process began to make the didgeridoo.
The bark had to be peeled off and the outside had designs carved into it. He told us that the didgeridoo is not that easy to play because you have to do circular breathing (breathing through your mouth and nose at the same time).
He told us that shields have different designs. He showed us a shield with a scorpion on it. There were also some shells which people wear around their neck like a necklace.
When they wanted to demonstrate the spear, we had to all go outside.
A spear is made from bamboo with a pointy tip at the end. A bamboo is a long, straight stick. The spear was used to hunt for food. They still use it today in most communities.
Marun taught us how to say the Aboriginal word for spear which is “galga”.
To catch a crab or a stingray they would have to throw the spear with bare hands. A jarrin is used to launch the spear to give it more distance.
There are different types of spear launches. There is a curved one for ceremonies. He also told us about putting one at the front of a canoe to show you come in peace.
Then Marun and Brother Bungaroo threw boomerangs to show us how they work. The Minjil people brought along a yalma boomerang which is a crossed shaped boomerang as well as lots of normal boomerangs. To make an original boomerang by hand can take up to 6-12 months from start to finish.
Nowadays it is a lot quicker to make boomerangs as they can use power tools.
Only the teachers were allowed to throw the boomerangs. Mrs Emily Andrews threw it furthest.
Year 3 really enjoyed the incursion and learnt a lot more about indigenous culture.