Video of 3-year-old shows Indigenous culture still ‘strong and alive’ in Geelong

A young Geelong resident has gone viral online for his dance moves. This is why his connection to culture is key to his success.

Holding onto boomerangs and mastering the shake-a-leg, young Geelong boy Mundarra Edwards has danced his way into viral fame.

Posted and shared originally by Mundarra’s family, the video was quickly picked up by organisations around Australia, with his father Jordan Edwards telling the Geelong Advertiser that he’s “got the right algorithm to go viral”.

“The amount of love that people have sent through to us has been really, really awesome. And for everyone else to see how strong the culture is, especially down here in the south, is equally as important,” Mr Edwards said.

Mundarra Edwards.

“We can’t be more proud and happy (of Mundarra).”

Mr Edwards, a proud Gunditjmara, Waddawurrung and Arrente man, has danced across the world. While his son will carve out his own path, Mr Edwards said Mundarra is “definitely a better dancer than I was at his age”.

For the time being, Mundarra wakes up early and wants to get the rest of the house up with his clapsticks and boomerangs.

“It’s every day. At childcare, at home, out in public. It doesn’t matter, he can do it with everything. He can do it with sticks, he can do it with toy train tracks, and some French fries if he really wanted to. He loves it,” Mr Edwards said.

Wathaurong man Jordan Edwards and histhree-years-old son Mundarra.

For Mr Edwards, the viral video is confirmation that culture is “still strong and alive” in Australia and, more importantly, in the south of Victoria.

“We need everyone else in Australia to keep progressing and making sure that Mundarra doesn’t go through the same stuff that I went through, (and) my parents and my grandparents,” Mr Edwards said.

“He and his sister and the rest of his cousins can grow up in a happy and safe place where culture is embraced and not shunned away.”

Originally published as Video of 3-year-old shows Indigenous culture still ‘strong and alive’ in Geelong