teaching aboriginal culture in early childhood

All Australian children, from the earliest age, deserve to learn about our ancient country and the rich and diverse cultures of First Nations people that continue to this day. We usually talk about sustainability in relation to the environment but its also relevant to the practice of cultural competence and embedding culture in sustainable ways in early childhood services. You might also try simple and engaging activities like crafts and videos. NAIDOC includes an annual awards ceremony, poster competition and theme which serves as a provocation for learning and reflection. Selective high schools and opportunity classes, Attendance matters resources for schools, Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives through program and practice, Office 365 Multi-Factor Authentication Settings, Forward thinking by service leadership key to engaging and extending children, Using self-assessment to enhance your assessment & rating experience, Minimising childrens risk for allergies and anaphylaxis. O~Mj+9!|JykOI\T$mZ7I5|g0Dn9)( >r1V7-, lZ,gM4JBO With increasing political, economic and social tensions world-wide Tobin (2020, p.11) despairs that challenges encountered by immigrant/refugee/asylum seeker families have become more acute. Learning and development happens rapidly during early childhood, as the brain has higher plasticity. Finding these kinds of resources will not only help you learn, but give you a way to share what you find with your children. Children are capable of understanding so much more than we often give them credit for and teaching them about important issues at a young age can set them up for success as they grow. The rich benefits of traditional methods like this can be extended to all children, by involving singers, dancers, and actors specialising in culturally specific music, movement and drama in ECEC services. The inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives can be linked to each of the seven quality areas of the National Quality Framework. early learning centres. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to receive quality early learning programs, educators need to understand the trauma experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people historically in mainstream institutions and the important steps they need to take to create culturally inclusive environments and build trust. Childrens books must be diverse, or kids will grow up believing white is superior. - Mallory Rose International Inc. Smudge Kit with Sage, Feather & Wooden Stand, HOW TO TEACH YOUNG CHILDREN ABOUT INDIGENOUS CULTURE, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands (GBP ), Cultural Traditions of Native American Hunting & Gathering UPDATED April 2020, How to Reduce STRESS & ANXIETY (By Smudging with Sage & Indigenous Wellness), HOW to make friends with Indigenous People | Being an Indigenous Ally for Reconciliation. According to Deborah Hoger, Dunghutti woman and early years Indigenous educational resources specialist: Through sustaining the focus on Indigenous Australia throughout the year through activities and excursions, and new books and activities that engage across a range of diverse topics, we can help foster in our children a well-rounded knowledge of Australias First Peoples, and help them to develop a respect for diversity and an understanding and appreciation of cultural difference.. Whilst the Koori Curriculum principles are useful as a guide the obstacle that most educators face is developing their own cultural confidence and capacity. The NSW Department of Education recognise the traditional Custodians of the lands and waterways where we work and live. There is growing awareness and effort in Australian classrooms to understand, respect and support cultural differences, but are we starting early enough? The sooner children begin to learn about indigenous culture, the sooner it becomes a part of their normal, everyday life. This study on family storytelling was conducted amongst refugee families from Nepal, South Sudan and Somalia, living in New York. Additionally, incursions and excursions exploring topics such as storytelling, music, art or caring for country are all powerful learning experiences to support a childs development and understanding. What is ever present for these children and adults is the subtle, subjugated nature and insidious side of social out casting or marginalisation. Educators are often so worried about doing the wrong thing that they tend to do nothing at all and suffer from a form of analysis paralysis. loading essentials, You Its alright to stand up and say I am Aboriginal and I go to kindy and Im going to go somewhere in my life. have no essentials, {{ firstName }} We strive to ensure every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learner in NSW achieves their potential through education. Little J and Big Cuz: This animated series follows the lives of two Aboriginal school children as they explore themes of Indigenous identity, connection to country, traditional knowledge and cultural practices. NSW Department of Education's information on curriculum taught in NSW schools, Aboriginal education and communities & personalised support. The National Quality Framework (NQF) provides the foundation for culturally competent practice in education and care. The NSW Department of Education is committed to employing the best and brightest teachers who can teach and make a difference in NSW public schools. Jessica has worked in early childhood for fifteen years for a range of service providers in both urban and regional communities. Keiryn considered the stories a good way to show the children how to interact with each other by talking and listening with care, respect and empathy. The educators reported that, even though the children were tired at the end of the day, they were attentive to the stories and enjoyed following the various characters, especially Old Dog. Visit the Foundations for S. Congratulations, Somayeh. This will help them see, experience, and reinforce the concepts they have learned through the ideas and activities you have used to teach them. This will result in a richer learning experience for educators, children and families as well as avoiding potential cultural tokenism. Future-proof Australia against welfare dependency and inequality, Stay and Play at the QUT Childrens Technology Centre during Live Wires, Playwork at Forrest Out of School Hours Care, Fulfillment and four-wheel driving: The life of an ECA Inclusion Professional, A story of self-care within early childhood education and care. Ensuring culture is play based and not themed based teaching this means Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are not the topic, theme or interest. It is something I have witnessed in my own childs experience. You need education to get somewhere in life, Shandell said. In this context, my why is centred around creating an anti-bias, anti-racist and inclusive curriculum. from $49.95 Educator Resources Save 15% Educator Yarns: A Collection curated by Jessica Staines $38.25 $45.00 Bush Tukka Guide: Identify Australian Plants and Animals, and Learn How to Cook by Samantha Martin $17.50 The Koori Curriculum Educator Programming and Planning Guide $11.00 I have been working in the early years sector for over 20 years and have been sharing Aboriginal Culture in Kindergartens, Early Childhood Centres and Primary Schools for 10 years. 241 0 obj <>stream Respect trumps harmony5 leadership lessons from the worlds toughest workplace, How to effectively reflect, record and engage children. However, there is not enough focus on this in Australian settings. We live in a country where more than half of us were either born in another country or have at least one parent born overseas. Further, the series subtly assisted children to make the transition to preschool. The NSW Department of Education is committed to employing the best and brightest teachers who can teach and make a difference in NSW public schools. Early childhood the key to improving Indigenous health. From this worldview, "pattern thinking" and "systems thinking" are essential skills and have obvious connections to mathematics and mathematics education. Aunty Phyllis described how she connects children with ancient wisdom through nature, encouraging them to be eco-explorers as she guides them in their discovery of native plants growing on country, and sharing knowledge of how they were used. Shandell Washington is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mentor in Toowoomba. Lets uphold our commitment to children by being intentional in acting ethically to honouring the richness of our pluralities. The Koori Curriculum has recently created an online Facebook group for families who are wanting . In a recent interview for podcast Mamamia, Aunty Phyllis Marsh, a First Nations Cultural Educator at West Moreton Anglican College in Queensland, discussed how cultivating understanding should start from the earliest age and begins by taking children outside to explore the natural world around them. Published on Tuesday, 28 September 2021 Having made that effort, what can we do to enable these children to stay and thrive? When teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, contextualising the curriculum through culture is essential if we want to see them thrive in school and early education settings. In subtle and explicit ways Little J & Big Cuz modelled some of the behaviours Keiryn was deliberately trying to develop in the children, especially respectful and empathetic relationships with each other and adults. You can read them picture books that incorporate indigenous culture or guide them toward some TV shows that offer insight into indigenous culture. Are children who walk and talk early geniuses in the making? Addressing the needs of children of immigrants and refugee families in contemporary ECEC settings: Findings and implications from the Children Crossing Borders Study. Teachers can also benefit from having time to reflect critically on problems, such as cultural marginalisation, caused by lack of diversity. Incorporating indigenous culture into their lives doesnt have to be like being in school. She has received five scholarship awards for her passion for teaching diverse groups of childrenincluding those living with autism, Down syndrome, developmental challenges and other special needsand for outstanding achievement in her postgraduate studies. Exposure to diverse cultural groups and experiencesthrough professional development opportunities[2], for examplecan improve teachers confidence in encouraging multicultural creative expression and practices in their classroom. I found that many Australian early childhood educators were unprepared or unsure how to support and incorporate cultural difference in the classroom, which can have a lifelong impact on children and their cultural awareness. When you . ACECQAs monthly newsletters highlight the latest news and information on the NQF. You are urged to read Lambs papers on practical strategies for addressing childrens trauma induced challenging behaviours and learning difficulties. Many Australian families value the importance of teaching their children respect for our Countries First Nations Peoples however many struggle with their knowledge and confidence. The Aboriginal pedagogy framework is expressed as eight interconnected pedagogies. The effects of these losses of land, culture, Yera Childrens Service educator Keiryn Christodoulou incorporated all episodes of Little J & Big Cuz into her early childhood groups social and emotional development program. She feels this stems from fear of doing the wrong thing or uncertainty about how to genuinely incorporate cultural experiences in ways that avoid stereotypes or the perception of tokenism. Its good to connect with the children, to be part of their life and their journey, especially in the first 5 years, Shandell said. Error The McGowan Government will provide a $77 million funding boost over the next four years to manage and protect Aboriginal cultural heritage in Western Australia. Additionally, my why is also linked to my understanding of how education is key in Closing the Gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Australians. The food my son has taken to school has been judged by his teacher, which has impacted his perceptions of whats normal and acceptable. Come back when you're older. Exploring the context of your service may include: Register for a Reconciliation Action Plan. The series is an initiative of the Australian Council for Educational Research and was developed in partnership with Ned Lander Media, NITV, Screen Australia, Film Victoria, Screen Tasmania and the Australian Childrens Television Foundation. The blue fish in the episode reminded the children and educators of the Bony Bream in a local Ngarrindjeri story. Words like offensive, stereotypical and tokenistic when used in reference to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs can often have a debilitating effect. Its a good idea to pre-plan and organise the release of educators to attend NAIDOC community events where they can listen, learn, reflect and connect. Information for parents and carers including learning and wellbeing resources, advice, study skills, a quick guide glossary, homework help, tools for learning remotely, support for additional needs and more. They also admired their elders abilities to remember and retell stories repeatedly without a written script or book like their teachers did. @{&.g`D` 0 Research shows that they experience trauma throughout their lives connected with challenges encountered in their lives on the run. For the episode Right under your nose, the children could easily relate to the links between home and school culture and to the concept of show and tell, which is a part of their regular program for sharing news. The purposes of these actions, and the role of the . Information about working in or operating early childhood education services including outside school hours care. 2023 Care For Kids Group Pty Ltd ABN 77 618 980 706 - CareforKids.com.au , Embedding Indigenous perspectives in Early Childhood Education and Care Services, Exploring Indigenous ways of knowing and being, How to celebrate indigenous languages in your centre, Early childhood the key to improving Indigenous health, Improving early learning for Indigenous children, Find out who the Traditional Custodians of your area are, and the language they speak, Find out what land or nations your families may have connections with, Provide opportunities for families to identify with the Aboriginal culture in your care environment, Form links with your local Aboriginal community, Find out what relevant community events are celebrated in your local area and get involved, Engage local artists in the community to share their skills e.g. Do you want me to be with your child or photograph your child? Jessica Staines is a Wiradjuri Woman, early childhood teacher and Director of the Koori Curriculum. Understand Indigenous culture and engaging with local knowledge. The children loved the stories and would be highly engaged for the short duration of each episode. She ponders on recent research on refugee/asylum seeker children and her findings from nearly thirty years ago, to reflect on how research-based evidence can foster improvements in embedding cultural diversity in early childhood education. Evidence suggests that access to high quality early education holds the greatest potential for improved outcomes for our children. sE!A@Al[L`uAuL5@Fer TNJB1qc[M@.}aL_xXfm*sHH`]iI0* /!krx8f8<>@[ 3H`kwHX]f>["(Bt,w Photographs and videos related to Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander peopleAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned photographs/videos on this website may contain images of deceased persons which may cause sadness or distress. Tobin states the persistence of difficulties is linked with the lack of attention to cultural diversity in contemporary child development knowledge and best practice guiding ECEC. We are the peak early childhood advocacy organisation, acting in the interests of young children, their families and those in the early childhood field. Ideas to create learning opportunities could include: Education NSW: Embedding Indigenous perspectives in Early Childhood Education and Care Services, CELA: Avoiding the trap of cultural tokenism, The Spoke: Exploring Indigenous ways of knowing and being. 0 Your email address will not be published. How languages link us to our individual identity, traditional culture, memory and the importance of Indigenous languages in your service. How are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives included in your practice? creating a thriving culture; Mentor training for experienced early childhood teachers. This was because she was from a service that only enrolled children from Aboriginal backgrounds, and her own children were Aboriginal. {{ lastName }}. Manjula Waniganayake, Professor of Early Childhood Education, at the School of Education, Macquarie University is a researcher and teacher educator, contributing to the preparation of numerous cohorts of ECEC teachers. . endstream endobj 185 0 obj <>>> endobj 186 0 obj <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC]/Properties<>/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/TrimBox[0.0 0.0 595.276 841.89]/Type/Page>> endobj 187 0 obj <>stream Movement experiences could involvelearning of traditional and contemporary Aboriginal dance movements, or kids could create new movements by mimicking Australian animals. The Wellbeing Framework supports schools to create learning environments that enable students to be healthy, happy, engaged and successful. This funding supplements mainstream Commonwealth support in childcare, pre-school, health . encourage best provision and maintenance of culturally safe and responsive . If required, educators should seek professional training to ensure they have a solid understanding of culture and how to communicate this knowledge. My son has since asked me not to pack his lunch box with that specific food. The educators commented that the learning resources included questions that helped them guide the discussion with the children as well as lots of ways to incorporate activities to support the viewing of each episode. Thank you so much. Joining supportive online learning communities such as the Koori Curriculum Educator Community on Facebook. 33(1), 6-21. Designed to provide pre-school aged children a window into the world of school, each 13-minute episode follows lead character, Little J, on his adventures as he comes to understand and enjoy the sometimes unfamiliar environment that school can be, and the greater world around him. As mentioned above, a core principle of creating a culturally safe environment is to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives every day and not only on significant dates or during cultural celebration periods. Listening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Radio Stations and reading our National fortnightly newspaper called the Koori Mail. In Year 2, his teacher asked him not to speak his home language when he was explaining to his friends, in his language, what we speak at home. Keiryn said the educator resources were authentic and resonated with the childrens own experiences. hb```VB cc`ay$X$Cq fM6::>$(.cJDJg/K@$,e%_`Z"s} Shandell also works as an educator at the Learning Pathways Kindergarten in Toowoomba. The PhD study by Cherie Lamb (2019) illustrates how badly refugee children and their families were misunderstood, impacting 3-5 year old childrens access and participation in EC services in Queensland. This finding underscores that the next generation should learn more about our unique Indigenous cultures. Honouring cultural diversity involves collaboration between children, families, and teachers as well as those beyond EC services. Thats why its so important to start talking to your children at an early age about indigenous culture, teachings, and other important topics. Action on Aboriginal Perspectives in Early Childhood (AAPEC) is a collective of people committed to embedding Aboriginal Perspectives in early childhood services with a focus on local Victorian cultures. Dear Somayeh, Aborigines loved making art. Therefore, the primary focus of ceremony-related artwork is not on the artwork itself, but on the processes and practices used during the creation of the artwork. National Quality Framework (NQF) eLearning modules, Quality Support Program Dual Program Pathways, Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) resources, developing an awareness of the traditional custodians of the land and the language/s spoken, working collaboratively with children, families and the local community to develop an Acknowledgment of Country that signifies respect for Aboriginal culture, exploring the connectedness to the land and respect for community protocols, sensory exploration and responsiveness to the natural environment through play, exploration of how living things are interconnected and the interdependence between land, people, plants and animals. In contrast, resettled in Germany, Turkish families struggled with the play-based approaches in that country. Tobin, J. Research focusing on young children from specific cultures or circumstances of being refugees or asylum seekers, is somewhat scarce. Elders teach that relationships, environment, living conditions, and history affect emotional health. This provides rich opportunities to build a culture of understanding and respect for the environment for all children. Attend local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community events. This can be done by selecting books or posters with images that represent people of all skin colours, without any labelling that classifies them as different. Additionally, during this special period there are many local community events taking place around the Country. And, one day, theyll teach their children about it, too! Each episode was shown twice so that the children could become familiar with the stories. ACECQA spoke with Judith McKay-Tempest, a proud Wiradjuri woman and an Associate Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at Macquarie University. The tools and technologies mentioned were familiar to the children because several of them go camping with their families. The Conventions centrality in early childhood education and care (ECEC) is built into the Early Years Learning Framework (DEEWR, 2009) as follows: that all children have the right to an education that lays a foundation for the rest of their lives, maximises their ability, and respects their family, cultural and other identities and languages. (p.1), Embedded in the National Quality Standard Quality Area 1, child centred programs are the core or the foundation of every ECEC service. Including a balance of contemporary, traditional, urban, regional and local cultural perspectives. ^$OJ-,g7GG+UG]Q|jsR&ttKzxf?Nd;XuUe?[.V;E;O{p4 dM%qOpm9t!bg6E^d'X*MFt|Q?DP K!?|r]S?9u ; ,Iu7;@]2& c] When Tobin and associates began the Children Crossing Borders study in 2003, these children were described as the true transnationalists and ECEC services as key sites for social inclusion reflecting the mutual benefits of cultural diversity (p.11-12). As ECEC practitioners, you are the cornerstone of how successful we can be in fostering alternative ways of ensuring everyone achieves a strong sense of belonging, being and becoming as Australian citizens. Holistically programming and planning to embed an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective in context to childrens interests. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 28(2), 1-20. For example, when the episodes involved time in Ms Chens classroom, the children would model some of the behaviours of the onscreen children, such as sitting up and crossing their legs. Visit our Aboriginal access webpage for advice on connecting with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities. Your email address will not be published. These experiences can be planned or spontaneous. Its never too early to gently start teaching your children about important, complicated topics. It is a point of entry into this way of knowing. have no essentials, {{ firstName }} Regardless of culture, these are wonderful, powerful values to teach our children. The importance of absolute genuine, Indigenous-led embedding of culture is vital for the future of our children and culture. 28(1), 10-20. Introducing Aboriginal Culture for Early Years Education. The childrens interest in the joey, led the educators to incorporate further activities about Australias indigenous animals into their education program, as well as the teaching resources relating to habitats and sustainability. The article shares findings from research and reflects on strategies to support children and families from refugee/migrant backgrounds. This was despite the fact that the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)[1] highly recommends providing learning environments that respect diversity by honouring the histories, language, tradition, child rearing practices and lifestyle choices of families. The purpose of this guide is to help Early Childhood Educators who work with Indigenous children, families, and communities find appropriate and meaningful resources that will increase their ability to provide culturally safe and respectful care. Somayeh has also worked in early childhood settings as an educator in Australia and Iran. This can even be the case for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander educators as knowing about their culture and knowing how to translate it into an early learning context can be two separate things. while loading notifications, Error while Teachers must follow protocols for teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. ECEC services are a microcosm of our history as well as our present and future nationhood. However, surprisingly many educators have no idea what NAIDOC stands for or the significance of the week which begs the question; how well can we possibly be doing it if we dont know what the celebration is about? A number of episodes have been revoiced in Indigenous languages and are also available to stream. This includes branching into some deeper topics and learning how to incorporate what youve learned into your childrens daily lives. hbbd```b``Q i )DkFX "} R! "feA)6 Dl + 184 0 obj <> endobj The protocols seek to protect the integrity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural expressions in a way in which all Australians can engage respectfully and feel connected to this identity. There are a many simple, practical and research-backed3 ways in which teachers can incorporate multiculturalism in early childhood classrooms. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal. Note that the linear equation . Australian early childhood educators have a responsibility to value and promote greater understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing and being. Keiryn observed that sitting down like Little J, Big Cuz and their friends do when in Ms Chens class helped the children make this transition. Tune into podcasts such as Educator Yarns. This article draws attention to some of the limited but important research of relevance to better supporting children and families from diverse cultures. This study captures the perspectives of parents and practitioners from 5 countries: England, France, Germany, Italy and USA. Make a start by reflecting on where your service is right now. Before joining UNE in 2020, she taught early childhood courses and educational psychology in various universities in Australia and overseas. Learning and development happens rapidly during early childhood, as the brain has higher plasticity. It is important to be sure on your why and your teams collective why. endstream endobj startxref %PDF-1.5 % Her understanding of diverse cultural expression in early learning came from her personal experience of seeing the way her children participated in activities like painting and drawing, which she acknowledged was different from what she taught. Do you want me to be with your child or photograph your child? i look forward to reading more of your real and relevant topics.
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