Culture is top focus

A local Aboriginal youth group that recently won a prestigious WA award has spoken out about the importance of ensuring their culture is passed on to younger generations.

Robe River Kuruma Youth Council took out the Youth Group Achievement Award at the 2020 Young Achiever Awards this month.

The group was founded by local Daniel Farmer following a number of youth suicides in the region.

RRKYC chairperson Emma Jean Evans, who is Mr Farmer’s cousin, said she was proud to have won the award.

“At first we were shocked. It was unexpected,” she said. “Everyone else was so amazing and we just couldn’t believe it. Then we were very happy because it’s a big achievement. Everyone is encouraging us to do more and keep up the great work.

“We made our elders proud. They were crying as soon as we got home. Without their support, we wouldn’t know what to do.

“Daniel, who is my cousin, started this whole thing and to be a part of it and move forward and get everyone else involved is amazing.”

Ms Evans said a main focus of the group was to encourage younger generations to engage with their elders, learn about their Aboriginal culture and keep it alive for years to come.

“The highlights for me being chairperson is I get to see the changes that youth can do with their elders and also interacting with the elders and trying to get as much stories and knowledge from them as possible,” she said.

“Just to experience what they’ve experienced is one of the best achievements a young person can get and to get that from them and pass it onto the next generation will be one of the biggest achievements we will have.”