This NAIDOC week, Fitzroy Crossing Kimberley WA community have created the first stage of a new campaign called "Standing Strong" against suicide, drugs and alcohol.
IHHP, Gilimbaa, Kimberley Mental Health and Drug Service and Nindilingarri Cultural Health Service facilitated a powerful creative process with local senior elders and young people making a music video, photoshoots, interviews and art workshops. Through this Standing Strong creative process we explored themes of building resilience, how to help each other get through tough times, the importance of standing strong together, creating a safe space and assisting each other to get through the hard times.
During the week we focused on the importance of culture, language and family; and in strengthening identity and well-being. We discussed the issues and problems that alcohol and drugs can have on the community and the importance of making the right choices.
Elders from five language groups all gathered together to create a shared message and discussed how important it is to stand strong together as one, to support each other and be strong in culture, language and community!
The young people who participated demonstrated their potential to be strong, positive role models in the future and to carry on the message passed down from the elders.
Special thanks to Western Australian Country Health Service
Nindilingarri Cultural Health Service
Fitzroy Valley District High School
Marra Worra Worra
Garnduwa
Wirrpanda Foundation
Gilimbaa
IHHP
People of the Kimberley - Standing Strong –
Chorus
People of the Kimberley
Standing strong like a boab tree
Bloodline flowing through our veins like
Bom de bomb bom de bomb bomb bomb
Wangkajunka and Gooniyandi
Bunuba, and Walmajarri
Standing strong like a boab tree
Bom de bomb bom de bomb bomb bomb
Verse 1
Kimberley people were standing strong
Against binge drinking and smoking from a bong (Rish)
Screaming and fighting and doing things wrong
Its Time to step up you mob and all get along (Kayla)
Think about your family think about your kids
You’re wasting all your money when you hitting the piss (Mary May)
We need strong leaders we need a role model
We don’t want our people addicted to the bottle (Niqua)
Your poisoning your body what you mob thinking
Time for our people to limit the drinking (Madonna)
People stressing out struggling to cope
Numbing their pain with the ngarby and dope (Janayha)
Its time for healing and positivity
Do it for your culture spend time on country (Tula)
Coz life can get a little hard sometimes
Everybody needs a little help sometimes (Harny)
Pre chorus x 2
Talk it out, I give you an ear
Talk it out, I will always be hear
Talk it out, There nothing I wont do
When times are tough we can make it through
Chorus
People of the Kimberley
Standing strong like a boab tree
Bloodline flowing through our veins like
Bom de bomb bom de bomb bomb bomb
Wangkajunka and Gooniyandi
Bunuba, and Walmajarri
Standing strong like a boab tree
Bom de bomb bom de bomb bomb bomb
Verse 2 - Boy Verse
Racism, it real gets to me
Making me question my own identity (Tredrea)
Jealousy its such a poisonous thing
Making life so complicating (Quaden)
If you questioning life crazy thoughts in your head
You gotta get help talk it out instead (Patrick)
No more sorry business for our young
Coz growing up is meant to be fun (David)
Our elders passing down the knowledge
Standing Strong like a Boab yeah we solid (Ike-o)
5 tribes come together in this one horse town
Pick our culture up and put the drinking down (Dwayde)
Everyday the sun will rise and set
Don’t do something that you will regret (Paicer)
Coz life can can get a little hard sometimes
Coz everybody needs a little help sometimes (Hanna)
Pre chorus
Talk it out, I give you an ear
Talk it out, I will always be hear
Talk it out, There nothing I wont do
When times are tough we can make it through
Chorus x 2
People of the Kimberley
Standing strong like a boab tree
Bloodline flowing through our veins like
Bom de bomb bom de bomb bomb bomb
Wangkajunka and Gooniyandi
Bunuba, and Walmajarri
Standing strong like a boab tree
Bom de bomb bom de bomb bomb bomb
Bom de bomb bom de bomb bomb bomb
Bom de bomb bom de bomb bomb bomb
Bom de bomb bom de bomb bomb bomb
