The 23-year-old Whadjup Noongar man from Nollamara was recognised by the Youth Affairs Council of WA in April for his dedication to strengthening cultural connections for young Aboriginal people.
His new role with the Noongar Boodjar Language Cultural Aboriginal Corporation will see him teaching prisoners about language and culture, as part of the Corporation’s three-year partnership with the Department of Justice.
Derek joins an experienced and accomplished team of Noongar educators delivering the program, including George Hayden, Denise Smith, Kaylene Bowen Smith, and Cindy Garlett, as well as fellow program newcomer Rachel Mogridge.
Corrective Services Deputy Commissioner for Offender Services, Paul McMullan, said the addition of Derek to the Noongar Boodjar teaching team would add a new dimension to the already very successful Aboriginal Languages in Custody Program.
“The Noongar Boodjar Language in Custody programs at Boronia Pre-Release Centre for Women and Hakea Remand Prison are achieving great results, and we are confident the 10-week program at Casuarina will do the same,” Deputy Commissioner McMullan said.
“Derek is relatively young in years, but he’s rich in knowledge about Aboriginal culture and language and made a strong connection to the nine prisoners enrolled in the course at Casuarina after just one session.”
Derek explains that while he was lucky to be born into a family that was strong in culture, many of the prisoners did not have that experience and as a result were missing cultural knowledge and values.
“I think it’s really important, it gives them a sense of identity, and of roles and responsibilities within community. And it gives them a sense of accountability too once they learn that culture,” Derek said.
“I believe all First Nations people are connected to their culture, but for a lot of the mob that is dormant, it’s sleeping, so my role is to awaken that spirit and awaken that connection they all possess.”
Derek says the cornerstone of his teachings to the prisoners will be the ‘Noongar trilogy’ of ‘boodjar’, ‘katitjin’ and ‘moort’.
“Boodjar being land, katitjin being knowledge, and moort being family. So I’m going to try and implement those three understandings we try to live by.”
The Department is working to expand the Aboriginal Language in Custody Program to other prison sites across the state.
Although the programs do not exclude non-Aboriginal prisoners, most of participants so far have been Aboriginal.
To learn more about the Noongar Boodjar Language in Custody Program listen to our podcast.
