Shepparton News SmartEdition

Teaching culture through play

NAIDOC Week is about celebrating and showcasing First Nations culture to be passed down to the next generations.

ASHE Daya is a program run by the University of Melbourne’s Shepparton Academy of Sport Health and Education that teaches First Nations culture in schools or at community events.

‘Daya’ in the Yorta Yorta language means ‘play’, and during NAIDOC Week this year, ASHE is facilitating traditional games at Rumbalara’s Family Day on Thursday, July 7, to showcase and celebrate Indigenous culture.

Younger generations are taught culture without even realising they’re learning through play and stories, preserving and passing down culture to the next generation, Yorta Yorta man and ASHE Daya student services officer Seldan Andrews said.

“It’s for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to understand the Indigenous culture ... through sport and fun,” Seldan said.

“We make sure that they have an understanding of the cultural side of the game before it’s played; how we played it back in those days.”

ASHE Daya facilitates cultural experiences for schools and the broader community like traditional games, smoking ceremonies, welcome to country and traditional storytelling, to name just a few.

SHEPPARTON NEWS

en-au

2022-07-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-07-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://sheppartonnews.pressreader.com/article/282089165463093

McPherson Media