Wogga Warniny provides an interactive lesson on early contact history

Staff participated in the Wogga Warniny, or 'blanket exercise', as part of National Reconciliation Week in 2022.

Members of our Executive Management Group, our Reconciliation Working Group and wider GESB staff participated in the immersive activity that involves learning about the contact history between Aboriginal peoples of Western Australia (WA) and colonisers.

The workshop was facilitated by Curtin University's Indigenous Cultural Immersion Coordinator,  Jayde Conway. Attendees experienced a range of emotions completing activities that demonstrated the impact of colonisation of the Traditional Owners of the towns and regions of WA.

Walking forward together

Staff member Rosemary said the experience was eye-opening and emotional, but ultimately very encouraging.

"The Wogga Warniny (blanket exercise) taught us about many tragic historical events, policies and their long-term repercussions for Indigenous peoples and individuals. These things were not taught about in primary school or high school social studies or history when I was growing up, nor were they any part of our general cultural consciousness," Rosemary said.

"I felt sorrow and anger both about the terrible things that have happened and about this complete dishonesty in our education, which must surely have arisen from shame. I really appreciated [Jayde] saying that, like me, she too was taught at school all about the tall ships arriving and has learned about her culture and the history of her own people since then."

"I found this generous sharing about this thing that we had in common very encouraging, because the reconciliation process is about sharing, even when it’s tough, and finding a way to walk forward together."