Children Explore Indigenous Culture

CHILDREN are expanding their knowledge of Australia’s rich indigenous past and present by making learning fun and interactive.

The childcare centre at Sutherland College, Loftus, has a strong commitment to teaching children from an early age about the significance of Aboriginal history.

Early childhood educator, Susanne McGilvray, said the centre focused on giving children an education that included strong components of an indigenous education.

“For many years we have proudly embedded the Aboriginal culture into our curriculum,” she said.

“We include culture in all aspects of our room including literacy, numeracy and art and science.

“Children explore culture through music, stories, song and dance, and games that teach children about symbolism.”

Every day, children start with a yarning circle where they chat about themselves, their family and their culture.

The centre also invited Aboriginal elders and Aboriginal students from Endeavour High School to paint murals which reflected the sharing of culture, inspired by Dreamtime stories.

“We have had the honour and pleasure of some indigenous students from the Strong Brother and Sista program at Endeavour, with guidance from elders in the community,” Ms McGilvray said.

“The children’s hands are also printed in the colours of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags at our centre.”

They learn about the Dharawal language, and rooms are named Guwing (moon) and Yanada (sun).

They have learnt to say “Naaniyah gamarada” which means “I see you friends,” they learn about the environment by using gumnuts in craft and examine different types of bark used to make Nuwi (canoes).

Staff are organising their Grab a Book campaign to raise awareness and money for the Aboriginal Literacy and Numeracy Foundation.

They have plans to design a bush tucker garden, with Aboriginal elders sharing their recipe knowledge with children.