Wujal Wujal children reconnect with their culture through a traditional dance that has been forgotten for almost 40 years. Photo: Thomas Salpietro.
When it comes to healing and reviving culture, speaking isn’t the only way you can have a voice – it can be heard through dancing, too.
Wujal Wujal’s children reconnected with their culture last week during a four-day dance revival camp, where they learned a traditional dance – which hasn’t been danced since 1986 – with Sacred Creations Dance Troupe choreographer Tamara Pearson.
The activity was part of the Kuku Balkal Kaykayanda (Giving Words to All the Children) project, which kicked off last year in an effort to foster resilience and promote healing after Tropical Cyclone Jasper through creative engagement.
Part of that, Wujal Justice Group youth justice program co-ordinator Susan Bonaccorsi said, was strengthening and maintaining young people’s interest and connection to their culture.
“It’s very important that we try and keep it strong, because especially after the cyclone, we were realising that they were losing that connection,” she said.
“We’re really concentrating on learning the language, and learning the old songlines and the dancing.”
Ms Bonaccorsi said engaging the older youth was always challenging, but focusing on the younger children was helping to break the cycle of cultural disconnect.
“It’s been happening for a long time that they’ve slowly been slipping away, because the young ones are losing interest,” she said.
“Now, the little ones are very keen; you see their eyes come alive, they’re so excited.
“They’re so happy, and not only that, but the Elders are also extremely happy that they’re learning this song and dance.”
Kuku Balkal Kaykayanda, which is led by the Creative Recovery Network Tropical North partnership, including the Regional Arts Services Network, has delivered multiple creative activities to keep Wujal Wujal, Rossville and Cooktown youth engaged during the school holidays.
