With a disproportionately high number of First Nations people in prison, inmates in the far west of New South Wales have been allowed to take part in NAIDOC activities for the first time. At the Broken Hill Correctional Centre, 70 percent of inmate identify as having Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage, despite only accounting for 10 percent of the city’s population.
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00:00A small fire burning in the yarning circle in the women's section of the Broken Hill
00:07Correctional Centre. It's a celebration of the NAIDOC theme for this year, keep the fire
00:13burning, black, loud and proud.
00:16And they were really proud of it and really excited to go and teach their kids.
00:21The women are excited to be the first inmates to receive lessons in the local language,
00:26Barkindji.
00:27Or you can say see you later, which is Bami Duma.
00:32The aim is to improve connection to culture.
00:37The women also took part in a smoking ceremony to ward off bad spirits. For one inmate, it's
00:43the first time she's felt comfortable to reconnect with her culture.
00:47This is the only jail that I've been allowed to understand who I am.
00:52In the men's block, a didgeridoo echoes across the prison grounds.
01:00Anthony Heywood has been teaching the men how to play the traditional instrument. He
01:04says it's essential First Nations prisoners are given an opportunity to gain cultural
01:10skills.
01:11We do so much on the outside that we have to forget about those who are incarcerated
01:14in our communities. So to be able to come in and showcase cultural activities and spend
01:18time with people is extremely important.
01:22The inmates value the chance to connect with elders.
01:25Yeah, it's good to hear some of their stories and that and trying to pass on a few of their
01:30stories to us and to the young fellas, yeah.
01:33NAIDOC Week isn't the only time inmates are given an opportunity to connect with their
01:37culture. As a requirement for all state prisons, the Broken Hill Correctional Facility offers
01:43a monthly Aboriginal Committee meeting where inmates can share their stories together and
01:48raise any issues that are impacting them as a cohort.
01:52Since starting as the Manager of Security at the prison 10 months ago, Michelle Thompson
01:56has been a strong advocate for changes to the way inmates access cultural activities.
02:02If we can connect them with their families and their culture, then they have a purpose,
02:07a sense of purpose and a better understanding of what's required of them as family members.
02:13While these opportunities are valued, the main aim for all inmates is to return to their
02:17families in a better place than when they were sent to prison.
02:22For more information, visit www.fema.gov