As part of National reconciliation week Vertech Group were proud and humbled to welcome a local elder to present a traditional welcome to country, host a smoking ceremony and introduce the Koolangkas Kreate dance group in support of strengthening relationships and our bond between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and our team.
Welcome to Country
Welcome To Country is a speech delivered by an Aboriginal elder of the land and is a sign of respect to acknowledge and pays respect to the traditional custodians, ancestors and continuing cultural, spiritual and religious practices of Aboriginal people.
These ceremonies are an acknowledgement and recognition of the rights of the Noongar Peoples to Noongar Land. This acknowledgement pays respect to the traditional custodians, ancestors and continuing cultural, spiritual and religious practices of Noongar people. Further, it provides an increasing awareness and recognition of Australia’s Aboriginal peoples and cultures.
The Smoking Ceremony
It was educational, inspirational and thoroughly enjoyable for the Vertech team to host a smoking ceremony with the local elder as part of National reconciliation week. The ceremony is an ancient Aboriginal custom in Australia that involves burning various native plants to produce smoke, which has cleansing properties and the ability to ward off bad spirits from the people and the land and make pathway for a brighter future.
When you see a smoking ceremony happening, it is a gift from the Aboriginal people to all people in Australia so make sure you go to the smoke and wave it over you and cleanse the past for a better future.
Koolangkas Kreate Indigenous Dance Group
Koolangakas Kreate is an all-boys dance group that came together to encourage young boys to embrace their Noongar Culture. They have performed for many events including major events for NAIDOC, Reconciliation WA, Recognise, Wardanji among other. They have performed at venues such as Optus Stadium, for the City of Bunbury and for the City of Perth so we were privileged to have the team perform at the Vertech Group head office in Perth WA.
The Koolangkas Kreate focus is not only on embracing our Aboriginal Culture, but on inspiring these young boys to become future leaders, teaching them to pursue their dreams – because no dream is unattainable. We encourage each of the boys in the group to continue their Education as it is vital for their future, and that embracing other Cultures and backgrounds is important to all of us to be strong people in this wonderful country in which we live.
Dale Tilbrook from MAALI MIA – Bush Tucker Education and Tasting
A Wardandi Bibbulmun woman from the Margaret River, Busselton area, Dale has been a Swan Valley local since 1998 offering authentic Aboriginal art, gifts and souvenirs. Having spent many years gathering knowledge from her elders and other sources, Dale is often called on to talk about bush food, which she loves presenting and encouraging people to incorporate into their everyday cooking. The Vertech team were treated to bush tucker of all ranges and educated on how we can still today live of the bountiful Australian bush.
