On Friday 20 October, Year 5 students at St Kilian’s Primary School, Bendigo participated in a FIRE Carriers Day. The day included workshops on Aboriginal culture, dialogue with guest speaker Leila Gurruwiwi and the ceremonial commissioning of FIRE Carriers.
Michael Chisholm, Aboriginal Education Officer from Catholic Education Sandhurst, led Aboriginal Culture workshops which included playing traditional games.
Students were delighted to welcome former St Kilian’s student and guest-speaker Leila Gurruwiwi, a proud Yolngu woman who is originally from Arnhem Land. Leila, now a television sports journalist and cultural awareness speaker, spoke about her life’s journey and her time at St Kilian’s.
FIRE is an acronym for ‘Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education’. The FIRE Carrier Project aims to educate children in schools and their affiliated communities about Aboriginal Culture, and keep the flame of reconciliation alight by focusing on our shared history and values. The Project is a joint project of Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Victoria and the Opening the Doors Foundation with Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd.
Student FIRE Carriers are elected by their peers. They accept the responsibilities of carrying the flame of reconciliation, such as helping to plan and implement reconciliation activities, acknowledging traditional custodians, writing prayers for Aboriginal people, and raising the Aboriginal flag.
FIRE Carriers are elected each year and are commissioned around a fire where they make a formal commitment to the FIRE Carriers covenant. The FIRE of the out-going (usually Year 6) FIRE Carriers is passed on to the newly elected FIRE Carriers.
Student FIRE Carriers are supported by Teacher FIRE Carriers who assist student FIRE Carriers to plan initiatives and events in their school. These teachers are usually a member of the Sandhurst Aboriginal Network.
