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A cultural program featuring dance, storytelling and live art will accompany Saturday night’s Youth League Men, Big V Women and Big V Men fixtures at Wurdi Baierr Stadium in Torquay.<\/p>\n
SBA vice-president Troy Benjamin, who is a proud Tati Tati, Wadi Wadi, Mutthi Mutthi, Latje Latje and Wemba Wemba man, said the evening was about creating an opportunity for people to experience First Nations culture in a different setting.<\/p>\n
“When it’s weaved within a community channel like basketball, when you put it in a sporting realm, you can really bring it alive,” he said.<\/p>\n
“There is such thing as perfect timing and with three Big V games, right at the tail end of NAIDOC week, it’s a brilliant opportunity for the platform to be given to First Nations people.”<\/p>\n
A cultural ceremony by Indigenous performance group Malkar will feature throughout the evening, while Wadawurrung knowledge keeper Jordy Edwards and his family will share traditional dance.<\/p>\n
Benjamin said involving members of the local Wadawurrung community was essential to ensuring the event reflected the culture and history of the region.<\/p>\n
“There’s a real strong, thriving traditional community here,” Benjamin said. “They still live within us today.<\/p>\n
“It’s important that local people are involved.”<\/p>\n
The celebration will also include a live artwork by local artist Nathan Patterson, who will complete and present the piece during half-time of the Big V men’s match.<\/p>\n
Benjamin said watching the artwork come to life would give spectators a greater appreciation of the story and process behind it.<\/p>\n
“It’s going to be absolutely mind blowing,” he said.<\/p>\n
“People don’t understand what goes into the method, the framework, the mindset and the connection to what he’s doing.”<\/p>\n
The evening will begin from 4pm as the Youth League Men take on Melton.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Surf Coast Basketball Association (SBA) will partner with the Wadawurrung community this weekend to weave First Nations culture throughout its Big V triple-header as part of its NAIDOC Week celebrations. A cultural program featuring dance, storytelling and live art will accompany Saturday night’s Youth League Men, Big V Women and Big V Men fixtures […]<\/p>\n