NAIDOC Corroboree wraps up the week in Bourke

At the NAIDOC Corroboree in Bourke -Tajylen Johnson, Duane Johnson, Andrew Dixon, Malcolm Johnson, Benjamin Orcher, Christian Grimes and William Orcher with Mark Merritt at rear. Photo Layton Holley

As the fires burned outside the dance circle, the atmosphere was set as over 30 dancers celebrated an end to a successful NAIDOC week.

Last Thursday night the Bourke community gathered at the Men’s Hub in Meek Street for the corroboree marking the official end of NAIDOC week.

Chris Jones, Mark Merritt and Jamie Moore have been coaching a group of children each afternoon in dance workshops at the Men’s Hub and PCYC during NAIDOC week.

Chris Jones is from Dinawan’s Connection, a group whose mission is to share traditional Aboriginal dance and culture with everyone and empower the youth through mentoring, sharing the old ways, and connecting to Country with respect through dance and stories.

Although he lives in Orange now, Chris’s people are from the Brewarrina, Walgett and Wilcannia areas.

He believes that the importance of the traditional dance is fundamental to teaching young people.

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