Djilang is the Wadawurrung word for Geelong and name the Cats chose for their Aboriginal cultural connection initiative the ‘Djilang Program’.
The focus of this important program is for the Cats to connect with Aboriginal children and young people with an emphasis on culture.
In 2020 this program needed to pivot due to the impacts of Covid-19. Yarning, art sessions, language education and kick to kick moved to virtual chats via Zoom where our Aboriginal players Quinton Narkle, Brandon Parfitt, Nakia Cockatoo, Blake Schlensog and Nathan Krueger connected with many Aboriginal people.
"It was considered highly important to maintain our connection with young people during this difficult time. We have connected with Stronger Brother Stronger Sister, the Koorie Youth Group, the EMPOWE+R program in Geelong as well as with our friends in East Arnhem Land’s Yirrkala Clontarf Academy," Cats Community General Manager Sarah Albon said.
To celebrate Reconciliation Week Quinton Narkle read Sally Morgan’s ‘I Love Me’ with over 100,000 views on the Cats website and Facebook.
Cats past player and People and Culture Manager Mat Stokes filmed two special pieces on country with Wadawurrung woman Corrina Eccles highlighting the Cats 15-year reconciliation journey. The pieces was titled In This Together.
This weekend the Cats will play in the ninth annual Djilang match against Adelaide at Adelaide Oval showing we can be Djilang Willem baa Warriyt (“Geelong Strong - At home or far away” in Wadawurrung language, note: There is not a word for ‘or’ so represented as ‘and’). The match forms an important part of the AFL’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
