Learning on Country in the Dampier Peninsula
During the Term 2 school holidays, a group of Ivanhoe Grammar School students and staff embarked on an extraordinary eight-day journey to the northern tip of the Dampier Peninsula in Western Australia, where they learned on the land and sea Country of the Bardi-Jawi people.
Throughout the experience, students were privileged to learn alongside Bardi-Jawi bossman Bolo Angus, Bardi Elder Bundy Chaquebor, Bardi language teacher Vincent McKenzie, and the children and teenagers of the Djarindjin community. The immersion provided a unique opportunity to engage deeply with culture, history, language and traditional knowledge. A key focus of the trip was learning the Bardi language. Students spent two days participating in language lessons both in the classroom and on Country, developing an appreciation for the vital role language plays in preserving culture, identity and connection to place.
Students also gained hands-on experience in traditional ways of living on and caring for Country. They learned how to identify and forage for bush foods and medicines, catch mud crabs, spear fish, and understand the ecological relationships that sustain the land. Through activities such as firestick farming, students explored traditional land management practices that have been used by First Nations peoples for thousands of years.
One of the most memorable experiences was travelling by boat from Cygnet Bay to Sunday Island, a culturally significant place that can only be visited with the invitation and permission of the Bardi-Jawi people. There, students learned creation stories that explain the origins of the surrounding islands and deepen understanding of the cultural significance of the region. The visit also included the opportunity to snorkel in the crystal-clear waters surrounding the island. Later that day, students witnessed traditional ceremonial singing and dancing, gaining a firsthand understanding of how cultural knowledge, history and creation stories are passed from one generation to the next. Experiencing these living traditions provided a powerful insight into the enduring strength and richness of Bardi-Jawi culture.
The Dampier Peninsula journey was far more than a trip. It was an opportunity for meaningful cultural exchange, learning and reflection. Students returned with a deeper appreciation for First Nations knowledge, culture and connection to Country, as well as lasting memories of a truly unique experience.
