There was discussion in class, community, and together on Country about what this means and how intrinsic it is to the community of Utju for the young people in community to know who they are and what they are connected to.
The song, named ‘Utulu Kutju’, is the embodiment of community, with the programs process unpacking ideas surrounding identity, relationships and connection to culture.
Alongside the musical elements of the program, there was also a strong focus on local employment and community involvement. The creation of the song and music video saw widespread participation beyond the musicians and vocal artists. It was a community effort to refine lyrics, contribute to the creative process, and organise bush trips for recordings. The kids also engaged in dance classes throughout the week, learning about the art of movement and its therapeutic power.
Zoe Mitchell, a dance program facilitator said, ‘as the week involved multi-generational participation there were beautiful moments of shared cultural learning and positive experiences shared between Elders and children’.
A notable contribution came from Jessica, a senior student from Unity College and member of the Areyonga community. Her involvement was instrumental, coordinating small group activities, leading song theme discussions, translating language, and liaising for media consents. Jessica's journey from a primary school participant to a key team member of Red Dust reflects her growth in cross-cultural competence and leadership. We look forward to continuing to join her on her learning journey.
The program provided a re-engagement opportunity with the James Range Band to discuss future musical collaborations. This reunion was celebrated with the creation of a new song and music video, now available on our YouTube channel.
Toby Brown, Areyonga School Principal, said,
‘It’s a real community program, not just for the school but for everyone’.
The Utju Healthy Living Program was a special collaborative project that is a beautiful example of what can be achieved when community comes together with purpose and passion.
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Acknowledgments
A big thank you goes to those supporting this program:
- Areyonga School
- Central Australian Aboriginal Women's Choir (CAAWC)
- MacYouth
- MacDonnell Regional Council
- James Range Band
