To celebrate World Poetry Day and the Year of Indigenous Languages, Red Room Poetry along side Wingecarribee Shire Council and the Office of Environment and Heritage, presented a poetic and environmental learning project for young First Nations students on Gundungurra Country. 

Students from First Nations students from Aurora Steiner, St Pauls Primary School, Moss Vale High School, Bowral High School, Bowral Public School, Berrima Public School and Hill Top Public School met on Gundungurra land on March 18-20  to create poetry in language while learning about the environmental and heritage of the area.

Poetry in First Languages builds connections to country, language and community, empowering students to be proud of their cultural identities.

Josh Stone, a young Wiradjuri student from Moss Vale High School, really enjoyed the experience and learnt more about his heritage, ancestors and language. 

While Josh knew some Wiradjuri words from his granddad, he found learning the language of the Gundungurra people a little difficult.

"All the words were very complicated but I learnt a bit from Pop. He knows a lot [about his heritage] but not language because it's lost," he said.

At the Poetry in the First Language event on Wednesday, Josh used his new knowledge of the First Language to write a poem called 'Loved' which was inspired by the history of the First Nation people and combined words from both the Wiradjuri and Gundungurra language. 

Celebrating its second year, Poetry in the First Language is an intergral part of Moss Vale High School acoording to the school's liason officer, Alex, who believes the program helps young people come together, connect and belong to a group.

Red Room Poetic Learning Manager and creator of Poetry in First Languages, Kirli Saunders said the experience was amazing. 

"It was really special to provide kids with cultural knowledge," she said.

"It is powerful working with Aunty Sharyn Halls, Aunty Trish Levett, Jacob Morris and Mel Wiya to deliver Poetry in First Languages.

"These students are so lucky to experience this collaboration of Elders and Custodians, the coming together of bush medicine, fire keeping, cultural and language knowledge and to have the opportunity to learn it all by the river.

"It's so great to see this celebration of Gundungurra culture and language and to share it with the next generation."

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