Where there’s smoke there’s culture

There is a sense in which every week is NAIDOC Week at Darlington School. You only have to walk past on the way to King Street (anytime you like) to note displays of Aboriginal art and a plaque at each gate paying tribute to the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. The school is the local one for Aboriginal children west of the railway, and beyond – and for all the other children. You feel that Aboriginal culture has been adopted as a core learning in much the same way as nearby schools for adolescents (Sydney Uni) might adopt computer studies, say.

Monday morning of NAIDOC Week dawns as the coldest of the year. The children sit obediently on cold concrete steps while Uncle Max performs a smoke ceremony clad only in a loin cloth. He cleanses the assembled company, including the parents and press, then the beds where the sea of hands will be created, then the totem poles being crafted during the week, and, for good measure, the entrance gates.

Uncle Max comments on his concession to latter-day technology – he lights his fire with matches, rather than rubbing sticks together. You can see where latter-day religious might get their incense swinging from – though they tend to over-dress, relative to Uncle Max.

While Uncle Max gets dressed again for the weather, the children move to the playground for a concert. Each classroom, hence each class, has an animal totem – platypus, goanna, robin, etc. up to seven (the number of years at school). Each class sang a song about its totem. There might have been some latter-day rhythm added, as in ‘Rockin’ Robin’.

The smoke ceremony and concert were presided over by Principal Colleen Hayward. Music teacher Graeme Sandstrom conducted the concert, while Aunty Norma delivered on a subsequent sausage sizzle – all with the support of students, teachers, staff and volunteers.

Later in the week and beyond, Indigenous games were learned in the hall, the sea of hands for reconciliation was created (one hand for every student and staff) and the totem poles completed.

Photo: Ali Blogg - Uncle Max performs the smoking ceremony for the children

Source: South Sydney Herald August 2009 www.southsydneyherald.com.au