"History has had a direct impact on future Indigenous generations. Before any person wishes to judge or stereotype and Indigenous individual, please do your history first." - Warren Clements.
Welcome to a special NAIDOC Week edition of Time to Listen.
NAIDOC Week is a celebration of Indigenous Australian culture, history and achievement, and is also an important period in the calendar for listening, reflection and healing.
The theme for 2021, Heal Country, is a call to action; a powerful reminder that reconciliation is not beyond our capability as a nation. All of us, as individuals and communities, can make the choice to realise it.
This week, we are speaking with Warren Clements, a performing arts teacher at Djarragun College. Warren is an Indigenous man who is descended from the Wakaman and Kunjal nations. Warren has exceptional knowledge of Indigenous culture, and a deep care for preserving it through the coming generations.
Warren takes the time to explain what reconciliation means to him personally, and describes how he feels the process of reconciliation is being achieved at Djarragun College. He also explains how ancient Indigenous stories are inherited by younger generations through various forms of language, as well as the moral significance of them.
Warren completes the conversation by recalling his career as a performing artist. He has performed in front of several prime ministers, which included getting Kevin Rudd on stage for a dance. He has also performed for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth on a few occasions. He recounts one particularly enlightening aspect to his third performance for Her Majesty and His Royal Highness, Prince Philip. Ever heard of Prince Philip's 'spear throwing gaffe'? We reckon that you haven't heard the perspective that Warren cares to share.
Thank you for taking the time to listen.
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To find out more about NAIDOC Week and this year's theme of Heal Country: www.naidoc.org.au/get-involved/2021-theme
To find out more about Djarragun College and their celebration of NAIDOC week, find them on Facebook @djarraguncollege
Or check out their website: djarragun.qld.edu.au
Be sure to find and follow the Cape York Partnership on Facebook for future podcast episode updates, and follow our celebration of NAIDOC Week.