The church at Santa Clara Catholic Primary School in St James was overflowing as students, staff and community members gathered to celebrate a Reconciliation and NAIDOC Week Mass on Friday, September 25.
Indigenous themed art work and a fire tin greeted guests as they entered the school grounds before Aboriginal Teaching Assistant Marie Taylor offered a traditional Noongar Welcome to Country.
Traditional dancer Isaiah Walley-Stack performed a Djerupin Dance (Happy Dance) and read a poem written by his grandfather, Noongar Elder Dr Richard Walley, during the service.
The choir from St Joseph’s Primary School also joined the festivities to sing at the mass, bringing along as special guests a group of visiting Indigenous students from Halls Creek.
“It was fabulous to see all the different cultures celebrating to recognise Reconciliation and NAIDOC weeks at Santa Clara,” Ms Taylor says.
“The church was packed.”
She said it was particularly pleasing to see strong support from the local community with many Aboriginal parents attending the event.
The Yelakitj Moort Nyungar Association put on a special morning tea following the mass.
A $750 grant to run the event comes from the PALS (Partnership, Acceptance, Learning, Sharing) Program.
PALS is an initiative of the Department of Indigenous Affairs in partnership with BHP Billiton that encourages young Western Australians to develop projects that promote and advance Reconciliation.
