First Nations Course delivered at important time

OCHRE has been extracted, mixed with other elements and used to tell stories, practice ceremonies and medicinally by First Peoples across Australia for thousands of years.

It continues to be excavated and processed by Indigenous Australians with over 400 mines, quarries and ochre pits recorded across Australia.

This is just one of the fascinating facts that can be learnt about our Indigenous history from U3A Mirboo North & District on Monday mornings over 11 weeks in their First Nations History Course.

Written and approved by First Nations people, the course draws upon the First Australians series aired by SBS, with videos, research and documents delivered.

The course is being brought to the community at a decisive time in Australia’s history when discourse is prolific among Australians about the Voice referendum and will add texture and knowledge to the debate.

“Most people who go through this material, will see there’s a very powerful culture that we’ve ignored for 240 years,” said Andrew Corcoran U3A committee member and volunteer tutor.

“Some of it I know for non-indigenous people will be quite confronting because a lot of that history is quite confronting, but we feel it’s worth running this coming term. It gets us informed.”

The course will be presented in a neutral, non-political way, and while the formal programme doesn’t cover the Voice referendum, there will time at the end of each session for discussion, and anyone is welcome to join.

“I’m hopeful that people will see the material, listen, approach it with an open mind and then they will see that The Voice, as a follow on from the Uluru Statement from the Heart is a good progression.”

“It’s not our ambition to drive the Yes campaign, but it is something we hope that people having listened to the material, will see the benefit of acknowledgement, and the role The Voice can have.”

“Everyone’s going to be making a decision come October and it gives anybody who comes along the chance to ask a question.”

Ideally U3A Mirboo North & District would like to have an Indigenous co-presenter, but they have been unable to find one and are open to anyone appropriate and willing to present.

Andrew has been exposed to the Indigenous culture having spent time in Central Australia, and in the desert with the Pitjantjatjara people, and has visited the Kimberley and Northern Queensland regions.

First Nations History Course presented by U3A Mirboo North & District Inc. Mondays at 10am starting July 10 at Darlimurla Hall. Book by phoning Andrew Corcoran on 0411 671 058.