Many games that we play as children have a long history, everything from ring a ring a rosie to hopscotch have a long and distinguished heritage.
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Something that has been little taught in the school ground though are the traditional Indigenous games that were played within Aboriginal communities.
Twenty-four students from Canobolas Rural Technology High School were recently trained how to play the games, thanks to an intensive three-week training session organised by the Office of Sport and Recreation.
“The students were all years 9 and 10 physical activity sports studies students,” said the school’s community engagement officer Vince Lovecchio.
“Now they are able to teach primary school students how to play the games, and that has really helped the students increase their own confidence while teaching and learning about Indigenous games.”
During the recent Youth Arts Festival the students were responsible for managing each of the 20 traditional Indigenous games that were run on the day.
“The kids really loved it,” said Orange City Council’s youth development officer Katrina Hausia.
“We received really positive feedback from the staff and the students about how the whole day was organised.”
The games included kee’an, which involves competitors throwing a large animal bone with twine attached to it (acting like a comet ball) over a net into a pit or hole. The aim is for the bone and twine not to touch the net, which requires great skill and prepares for hunting. North Queensland is home to this traditional game.
Kolap is a game where a circle is drawn in the ground and from a determined distance items are thrown into the middle of the circle. The team with the most items in the circle is the winner.