NAIDOC Week 2016
NAIDOC Program
Cultural CelebrationThis is the place where we got all the news about our local crew and local issues. It’s about keeping updated on what’s happening here now. In this section of our youth zone we talk about local Arakwal youth in every day life and in action in the arts, sports, surf and street skating, music, dance and culture,. This is our space to connect and share dreams with our community and beyond.
Menu
Subscribe here
Upcoming Events
Arakwal Blog
Recent Posts
Links
Some of us are members of the Byron Shire Youth Council. We work with the local Byron Shire Council to help represent the youth in our community. Click on the link below to learn more about it.
Byron Shire Youth Council:
http://www.byron.nsw.gov.au/committees/youth-council
Our Arakwal mob live in our traditional lands and across Australia. Many Arakwal mob have natural gifted talent and are really kicking Goals!! Our traditional country has a history of producing great talent and this continues in our next generation!!
- In sport we play soccer, track, rugby, surfing, and even a bit of amateur boxing.
- We are also doing great at school, modelling, arts, community ,environment and drama to name a few.
We enjoy and encourage our mob to dream and do the things in life you enjoy…
Check out the Byron High School Newsletter to read about some of our crew winning NSW State Championship Relay Team races and also academic competitions like the Australian National Chemistry Quiz. Here is the link ….
Hey, check out this video of Sean Kay, one of our older Arakwal brothers shredding some local waves around the Bay – totally cool!
Learn More
We love learning about traditional art techniques. It helps us to learn more about our culture, country and who we are.
Congratulations to one of the Young, Black and Deadly crew who won the Reconciliation Week 2012 Poster Design and Story Writing Competition for 12 – 17 year age group. Way to go!
The competition is over now, but for more information please visit the link below.
Byron Shire Council – Aboriginal services and programs
http://www.byron.nsw.gov.au/aboriginal-services-and-programs
Some of us are part of the Dubay Dancers; a group of local Arakwal women who perform traditional dance in respect for our ancestors, family, culture and country. We learn about the stories and dances passed on for generations and perform them with pride!
Check out a video of one of our performances.
We believe staying healthy is a sure way to living a cruizy life. That’s why we stay active in both our body and minds. We also know that everyone needs help sometimes so we are here to reach out to other youth and to sharing ways to a healthy lifestyle.
“My general interests revolve around the topic of mental health, which I believe is a major issue, especially in our generation. My dream for the future is to be able to help as many people as possible with their “demons” (mental health issues)”.
Ngurungaeta, Arakwal youth community member, age 15
Info and Support
Here are some links with info and support for mental health issues for young people as a whole and those of us of Aboriginal descent.
- National Youth Mental Health Foundation
- Healthdirect Australia
http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/MentalHealthofYoungPeople
- Byron Bay Youth House – check out their programs
http://byronbayyouthhouse.org/links.html
- Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
Our Burra Jurra Surfing Program is a great way to meet other young crew and kidz, learn more about our culture while learning to surf! Cool hey! Join us for fun day in the sun, on the beach, and in the waves. For more information visit the link below.
Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) is an important totem for our people. Wajoong gives us messages about relationships between our clan members, to our ancestors and the past, and also to particular places and sites in our Country. We have stories of our people and dolphins communicating and connecting with each other, including co-operative fishing, sharing resources from the ocean, and playing in the shallows. Sea Eagle (Miwing)
White Breasted Sea Eagle (Haliaetus leucogaster) is an important totem for us. Miwing gives us messages about clan and family groups, provides knowledge on hunting practices and environmental events on Country. The second largest raptor (bird of prey), you can see the majestic Miwing soaring above you as you walk along Tallow Beach or around the Cape. Carpet Snake (Kabul)
Carpet Snake (Morelia spilota) as one of our key totems symbolises the relationship of clan members to each other, to our ancestors and the past, and to particular places or sites. Kabul are important to us for their conservation, wild resource and other cultural values. Brush Turkey (Wollum)
Brush Turkey (Alectura lathami) is a messenger providing clues about and demonstrating knowledge and adaptability in knowing and using Country. Wollum lives and moves freely in the coastal bush, foraging through leaf litter for food to eat. The male builds large mounds out of vegetative material and uses it to incubate their eggs. Pied Oystercatcher (language name?)
Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris) is an important bird to us because they provide messages about food sources and environmental events in Country. The Pied forages on the beaches and rocky shores, in mudflats of inlets, bays, ocean beaches, and on offshore islets. Green Turtle (Bijahlin)
Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) is an important messenger that provides knowledge of the sea Country. Biwing nests on north coast beaches including Tallow Beach and Lennox Heads to the south. Julian Rocks (Nguthungulli) supports significant populations of the Biwing and if you go snorkeling or diving there, you can have a close encounter with these graceful creatures.