On Friday 13 November, Ladder Step Up Sydney staff and young people celebrated NAIDOC Week with a screening of In My Blood It Runs.

NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, but by Australians from all walks of life.

The film, It My Blood It Runs, tells the story of ten year old Dujuan. Dujuan is a child-healer, a good hunter and can speak three languages, yet is failing school and facing scrutiny from the police. His family fight to give him strong Arrernte education alongside his western education. Throughout the film we learn of his struggles, hear his truths and share in his hopes and dreams.

Young people from the program were able to reflect on the film and their own experiences, many relating to Dujuan and the challenges he faced.

"I could really relate to that movie, I have family in Alice Springs who have had similar experiences"

"I think it really highlighted inequity in our justice system"

"I relate to the challenges of moving to different schools, in year 2 I went to 6 different schools in that year"

If you would like to watch In My Blood It Runs, please visit https://inmyblooditruns.com/screenings/.