The Smoking Ceremony
To open Waranara, Uncle Wes came to our school and started the Smoking Ceremony. He used medicine leaves and gave one to each person to rub on their hand. He said that it was to take away, to chase away the bad spirits.
Uncle Wes explained the we are on Dharug country, one of the more than 270 Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander nations in Australia. I can’t explain the smell, but the smoke did smell like the leaf on my hand. The smoke was really grey from the leaves, it moved around with the wind, and covered the school. The leaves that he gave us were special, the scent on my hand lasted all day, and it helped me remember the Ceremony and its purification of our school.
Jordan, Year 8.
"Uncle Greg really loved the smoke. He tried to make sure it spread over everyone so we could all be free of bad things. He said we'd all have a good day once we'd been cleansed by the smoke, and we did!"
"I liked the smell of the smoke, and I liked meeting the Elders. I think the school has done a really good thing today."
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- Jacob, Year 8.
