Swan Districts to embrace NAIDOC Week celebrations

Swan Districts hosts East Perth during the NAIDOC Week celebrations in the WAFL this Saturday afternoon in what is a significant occasion on the calendar for a whole host of reasons.

Swan Districts' special NAIDOC Round jumper for this season has once again been designed by local artist Kevin Bynder. It was once again a spiritual project for him because it represents his grandfather’s country who was born down by the river.

The design represents an ancient satellite map showing the places of significance along the Derbarl Yerrigan, near Steel Blue Oval Bassendean, as Bynder describes.

"The map includes significant places that have transpired over thousands of years," he said.

"That includes massacre sites, burial sites, meeting locations, camp sites, fishing spots, as well where expecting mothers would go to give birth."

A home game at Steel Blue Oval during NAIDOC Week has become one of the highlights each WAFL season it's able to happen for Swan Districts for so many reasons, as outlined by chief executive Jeff Dennis.

"Our WAFL NAIDOC home game has become one of the club’s revered annual events helping us connect to our community, similar to our Count Me In and WAFLW Reconciliation Week home games," Dennis said.

"The NAIDOC and Reconciliation Week games and events we deliver are an integral part of the club’s Reconciliation Action Plan. It shows our commitment to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who are and have been part of this club, and also to the communities in which we work."

While many people might still think a WAFL club is all about winning games of football on the field, the Swan Districts Football Club continues to take its responsibility to seriously to have a much deeper impact on the community, with NAIDOC Week a good chance to showcase that.

"Our club’s purpose is to empower communities and individuals to create better futures. The club’s vision is to be a high performing and sustainable club delivering positive social impact," Dennis said.

"Yes, we’re a proud football club with a long and rich history, but we exist for a deeper purpose."

Swan Districts does have a rich and storied history of Indigenous players going back to Phil and Keith Narkle, to the remarkable 2010 season of Andrew Krakouer, and modern players like Jarrod Cameron, and plenty more in between.

While that is a great part of the Swan Districts history to celebrate and acknowledge, it's even more important to embrace the entire Indigenous community whether they ever run out onto the field or not.

"While it’s important for us to acknowledge our many past and current Indigenous players, it’s also important for us to acknowledge and embrace the Indigenous people in our community," Dennis added.

"Our club’s Aboriginal Advisory Committee continues to help guide us through this important journey.

"It’s currently helping us undertake a process to hear and understand the experiences of past Swan Districts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, so we can learn from the past and create a club and community where everyone feels safe and that they belong."