11 Jun 2025
La Salle College Staff proudly wore a new College First Nations Staff Shirt on Monday 26 May to commemorate National Reconciliation Week and Sorry Day.
The 2025 theme for National Reconciliation Week is, Bridging Now to Next. The theme reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and emerging.
Last year La Salle’s Year 11 Textiles class connected and collaborated with the College’s Boarding Students to create an inspiring piece of artwork with the help of College Staff Ms Griffiths and Ms Farmer.
The design features stories of the land making it resonate with the College’s First Nations history.
The project and the final product are a call from students urging individuals to accept vulnerability towards the future and push for connection and unity between cultures.
The artwork demonstrates in detail how the College connects with First Nations culture.
Imagery in the painting, including the connection between the Swan River (the rainbow serpent) and the Yarning Circle, encourages the school community to connect with its ancestors.
Students believe by illustrating the story and creating an artwork that is now a shirt for all the staff at the College to proudly wear, the College’s community can build a stronger connection with its First Nations culture.
The idea of transferring the artwork onto a shirt means that the design is visible around the school to share, connect, engage, empower and serve others.
The shirt inspires cultural appreciation and a deeper understanding of the First Nations stories from Middle Swan, further connecting the school to the Elders and spirits that once gathered on this land.
“It was very inspirational to see everyone come together as a community to make the shirts,” said Anisha, Year 12.
“It was a very reflective process; we were able to come together and design something that will bring people together to experience different cultures and traditions. It was a wonderful opportunity,” added Wyonna, Year 12.
“It was really unique and collaborative, team building activity that allows us and the First Nations kids to connect our backgrounds in one artwork,” commented Evelyn, Year 12.
“The T-Shirt process was an engaging task that taught students about the importance of art in First Nations culture. This activity brought all the students together to teach the rest of the school the story of Middle Swan and the significance of the history of the land we are gathered on,” added Olivia, Year 12.
