Global Roaming Pilbara Foundation hold On Country school holiday program showcases Yindjibarndi culture

A Pilbara foundation created to build confidence in young Indigenous women gave participants the chance to sit with Yindjibarndi elders and learn about their culture and stories. The Global Roaming Pilbara Foundation was founded in 2004 to build self-confidence in young indigenous women through grooming, leadership and arts. The foundation held a school holidays program this month to raise cultural awareness for participants who had a high level of school attendance. The on country program saw students spend time the Juluwarlu Art Group and had an overnight stay at the Ngurrawaana Community. GRPF Girls Fx program manager Amy Smith said the experience was an opportunity for the attendees to learn from Yindjibarndi elders and the traditional owners. “We also had the privileged of visiting sacred heritage sites throughout Millstream National and being educated on its cultural significances,” she said. “As part of our community art project, all the attendees and mentors on this out on country trip were given an insight of Aboriginal art with Nanna Wendy and created one artwork together. “The attendees went home with sense of pride, proud of their knowledge of the Aboriginal culture, the community they live in and the land they call home.” Ms Smith said the finished artwork spoke “a thousand words”.