Welcome to country and welcome to our school

St Columba College students have made their own welcome to country to be used at school meetings and events.

St Columba College is launching its own Acknowledgement of Country video featuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Nobody visiting St Columba College will be left with the misconception that its Indigenous students are to be seen a not heard.

The students are so loud and proud of their campuses they have even made their own welcome to country presentation for visitors.

Their video features 13 of the college’s 50 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, some with speaking roles and others interacting with the extensive environment at the College’s three campuses.

Principal Leanne Carr said the video had been received with great pride by Indigenous and non-Indigenous families involved in the school.

“The past 20 years has seen a significant shift in how Indigenous Culture is presented in Australian education, and this is a fine example where our students have taken the lead,’’ she said.

SCREENSHOTS - St Columba College is launching its own Acknowledgement of Country video featuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Launched this week, the video will now be used by students and staff before special events, weekly assemblies, and staff meetings.

The video includes a Welcome to Country in Kaurna from Uncle Mickey Kumatpi O’Brien.

The project was inspired by discussions between students and Aboriginal Education Lead Teacher Mrs Susan Warrior.

The students had the help of professionals from Fastbreak Films, which helped interpret their ideas and depict them in the natural landscape of the school grounds.

St Columba in Andrews Farm is already well known as a bastion of diversity, being a combined Catholic and Anglican church school.

Year 6 student Kiarrah Buzzacott-Betts said she would like more schools to follow St Columba.

“I was really excited and happy to be involved in the Acknowledgment of Country video,’’ she said.

“It reminds people of Aboriginal culture and gives students a voice.”

Ms Carr said the video was also a way for all the students to learn about how Indigenous people interacted with the environment around the school.

“For at least 60,000 years, First Nations People have been using social, medical, ecological and STEM creativity to solve problems,’’ she said.

“It was their creativity and adaptability that enabled them to flourish throughout the Australian continent for millennia.

“We are enormously proud of St Columba’s First Nation students, and this video is a splendid illustration of their creativity and enthusiasm which we hope others will follow.”