Murama helping to make our culture stronger

50 Indigenous high school students have participated in Murama Indigenous Youth Summit camp to learn cultural skills and practice passing them on to younger students.

Liam Bashford at the Murama Indigenous Youth Summit. Source: Murama Indigenous Youth Summit

The annual Murama Indigenous Youth Summit camp has been held at Sydney Olympic Park over the past few days to teach cultural leadership skills to about 50 high school students.

The participants have travelled from as far as North Queensland, and have been learning cultural skills from Elders in everything from song, dance, art and ceremonial skills.

“We had Elders come in speak to us and young people come and speak. It’s been good because it opens our eyes to everything going on the world," participant Liam Bashford told NITV News.

“The Elders say that we’re the next link the chain and we can pass on to our kids and so on and so on so we don’t lose our culture.”

Participants of Murama Indigenous Youth Summit teach kids about culture. Source: Murama Indigenous Youth Summit

And what better way to practice passing on their knowledge by sharing it with 2000 primary students over the next two days.

The Youth Eco Summit (YES) has seen the students from across New South Wales converge on Sydney Olympic Park, where they will learn all things sustainable living.

And as part of it, the older Murama participants will hold workshops teaching them all they've learnt over the past two days - language, dance, art, biodiversity, tools, games, music and stories.

Meridah Hunter at the Murama Indigenous Youth Summit. Source: Murama Indigenous Youth Summit

Travelling to Sydney all the way from Cairns, this year is the second year that Meridah Hunter has participated as a leader.

"I think it’s important to connect back to our culture and learn more about each other to grow as a community,” she said.

“I’m going to take away from this the people that I’ve made friends with and the connections, and also some knowledge about our traditions."

Liam said what he looks forward to most is continuing to share the knowledge he has gained for a lifetime to come.

“I believe everyone grows and as person here but everyone’s on their different journey,” he said.

“When I go back to Canberra I’ll be a stronger person and I can share my culture with family friends and my kids later on in life.”