Get up! Stand up! Show up!
July 15, 2022
The following post includes references to the violence experienced by First Nations peoples in the early 1800’s.
NAIDOC Week (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee Week) is a time of recognition and celebration of First Nation peoples’ histories, cultures, contributions and achievements.
In the essence of learning more about and celebrating First Nation peoples’ history and culture, a few Painted Dogs were lucky enough to take part in some NAIDOC Week events – including a virtual tour of Lake Monger and Whadjuk society before colonisation.
Those involved shared their learnings about Lake Monger with the wider Painted Dog team– a place where the pack frequently go for early morning or lunch time walks. Lake Monger, known as Galup “place of fire” to the Whadjuk People, is a culturally significant site, where the Whadjuk People would visit every summer to hunt, teach and light campfires upon the dried banks of the lake as they gathered.
The Painted Dogs also learnt of the massacre of the Whadjuk People that occurred at Galup in 1830, when British soldiers orchestrated an attack at night, murdering men, women, and children. This massacre was one of more than 300 that took place across Australia between 1788 and 1930 – and sadly, there is still no permanent acknowledgement of this event at Lake Monger. The VR tour was an engaging learning opportunity for us to hear about the history (the good and bad) of a place we all visit and develop an appreciation for the cultural significance of the area.
Painted Dog is committed to the recognition and acknowledgement of the First Nations peoples of Australia. Our Reconciliation Action Plan working group continue to learn and build upon Painted Dog’s collective knowledge of Reconciliation.
