BUTLER Primary School held an official opening of its Yarning Circle ahead of Naidoc Week.
Noongar Elder Neville Collard performed a smoking ceremony at the June 28 event, which was also attended by police officers.
“Our Yarning Circle will be a place for all students, staff and the wider school community to come together to have a yarn and feel a sense of belonging,” deputy principal Beth Hutchinson said.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWMrs Hutchinson said plants representing the six Noongar seasons were growing around the circle.
“The plants will, in years to come, provide protection for those using the Yarning Circle from weather elements such as the sea breeze we experience in Butler and the heat of the summer sun,” she said.
“Butler Primary School is working towards being more culturally responsive and this Yarning Circle will become a valued teaching hub.”
Mrs Hutchinson said the event started with afternoon tea for Aboriginal families, followed by the ceremony, with students as MCs.
The school consulted ECU cultural awareness officer and parent Jason Barrow during the planning and construction phase.
Mr Barrow said it had been a pleasure to work with teachers to embed Aboriginal perspectives throughout the school and praised Mrs Hutchinson for speaking in language.
Music teacher Carly Jurgowiak said the choir sang Pass the Song Along by Bernard Carney and translated into Noongar by George Walley.
MORE: Perth Mint’s $1.8m Australian Trilogy coin collection bought by Singapore-based company
MORE: Inglewood community group puts forward petition to slow traffic on Beaufort St
MORE: Ageing Disgracefully: entertainer Max Kay talks ageing