Bringing a Deadly Beat to Adult Learners Week
The Council for Aboriginal Alcohol Program Services (CAAPS) held their annual Open Day and 25th anniversary, with the theme of 'Many Cultures, Same Dream' on Thursday the 3rd of September. A chance to experience Indigenous culture first hand, there was traditional bush tucker, yarning circles, canvas painting and remote community bands. The day was a culmination of a week of Adult Learner's Week activities and had over 1000 attendees, including 250 students from schools across the NT and a number of remote communities.
With a twin focus on residential rehabilitation and accredited VET training, CAAPS runs a range of programs targeted at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the Northern Territory. Many Cultures, Same Dream was a chance to share the success of learners throughout the year and promote lifelong learning.
Activities that ran throughout the week included bush tucker collection, weaving classes, art workshops, dancing lessons and sporting skills workshops. Attendees had the chance to wander down a historical timeline, help staff cut the birthday cake, enjoy lunch cooked in a traditional kup-murri and enjoy Indigenous performances and musical demonstrations from around the NT. Special guest speakers included Malarndirri McCarthy MLA, Charlie King (ABC Radio), Roger Sigston and Norman Peacock (founding members of CAAPS) and Associate Professor Edward Wilkes, Curtin University.
The stars of the show were the CrazyBoyz, a youth band from the remote community of Maningrida in Arnhem Land, NT. Playing two shows and supported by the One Mob, Different Country indigenous dancers and the Groovy Grannies line dancers; they played songs with positive messages about the future of Indigenous people.
The National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Council also held their consultation forum on the CAAPS Culture Block in the morning, and national delegates joined in with the celebrations and heard the stories of learners in the afternoon.
Topping it all off, 36 community service organisations, educational and health providers set up expo stalls on the grounds, distributing information to attendees and joining in with activities.
