Cultural dance workshops and art and craft activities will be held to celebrate an Undalup Djeran youth event which champions a strong spirit and a strong mind.
The strong spirit, strong mind slogan promotes the uniqueness of Aboriginal culture as a central strength in guiding efforts to manage and reduce alcohol and other drug related harm in Aboriginal communities.
Cultural Dance Workshops will be held on Friday, April 7 at the Art Geo complex from 3.30pm till 5.30pm and all are welcome while the Undalup Djeran Youth event will be held at the Busselton Skatepark from noon till 5pm on Saturday, April 8.
The cultural dance workshop will be lead by the Undalup youth leader Baron Kelly from the Manjar Maamun Nymbi Theatre group, and the participants from the workshop will have the opportunity to participate at the Undalup Djeran youth event with the cultural custodians and the dance group.
Manager of the Manjar Maamun Nymbi Theatre group Franklin Nannup said the event was a great opportunity to spread drug awareness.
“As the young men are stepping up as the new generation of cultural custodians, as we continue to perform our dances, we learn our songlines, our lore and the special places in Noongar Boodja where we come from that gives us our cultural connections to our country,” Mr Nannup said.
“The dancing keeps our mind strong as by thinking and remembering the stories and dance we perform at events, it gives us all that good feeling of knowing who we are, where we come from and our contribution to society.”
The association’s chairperson Iszaac Webb said he was pleased to have the support of Country Arts WA, Healthway Funding and sponsorship from the Department of Local Government and Communities and the Keep Australia Beautiful Council.
“Without unity you don’t have community," Mr Webb said.
“It is great to be involved and have our Undalup youth leaders take up the leadership role and bring cultural activities and cultural Dance to the event. It’s an opportunity for us all to come together on on Boodjar.”
Children will also have the chance to paint and decorate wooden boomerangs and animals and use tapping sticks during performances on Saturday.
This event - the South West Youth Festival, is being run by the City of Busselton Youth Services to celebrate National Youth Week 2017.
The Undalup Djeran dance and craft workshops are one component of a broad line-up of youth activities organized by the City in conjunction with neighbouring local governments.
The event has been sponsored by National Youth Week, Government of Western Australia Department of Local Government and Communities and Rio Tinto.
Local sponsors include City of Bunbury, Enable, Lamp inc, Headspace, Shire of Capel, Shire of Augusta Margaret River, Undalup Association and Sports Power.
