Teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture Before joining UNE in 2020, she taught early childhood courses and educational psychology in various universities in Australia and overseas. Early Childhood Education at the Cultural Interface Educational resources about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teachers can assist children in learning and respecting different cultures by carefully setting up the classroom environment. Little J & Big Cuz is an animated series that follows the everyday lives of two Aboriginal school children as they explore themes of Indigenous identity, connection to country, traditional knowledge and cultural practices. Introducing Aboriginal Culture for Early Years Education. One of the best resources that educators can access is their local community. They created functional art, like didgeridoos, to make music, narrative art, paintings and to tell stories. Words like offensive, stereotypical and tokenistic when used in reference to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs can often have a debilitating effect. It is indeed a sad reflection on our profession that three decades on, we are still struggling to work out how to welcome children and families from diverse backgrounds. Your email address will not be published. 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. It is easy to see how these family storytelling sessions contributed to refugee childrens language learning and the passage of values, traditions and beliefs from one generation to the next. Likewise, a Mexican parent in the USA asked would it kill them to teach my child to write her name before she starts kindergarten? (p.15). President Nelson Mandelas statement says it all: There can be no keener revelation of a societys soul than the way in which it treats its children.. programs designed specifically for Indigenous children play a key role in supporting children to develop their cultural identity Ideas for both families and child care practitioners Compile a range of digital and printed materials in your children's traditional language, including signs and pictures as well as books and magazines. Special occasions such as NAIDOC week or National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day (4 August 2021) provide a great opportunity to celebrate Indigenous culture but be mindful that to be meaningful, knowledge of culture needs to be embedded in your daily program. However, there is not enough focus on this in Australian settings. Visit the Foundations for S. There are plenty of fun, kid-friendly ways to start introducing your children to these topics. Nguyen (2011) argues that Aboriginal early childhood education needs to provide children with a "sense of who they are and where the come from, which will impact community self-government and self-determination" (p.231). 28(1), 10-20. developing collaborative partnerships and learning about places of cultural significance. 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. Children are competent, capable learners when they are fully engaged and supported to participate in meaningful learning experiences that follow their interests. Strekalova-Hughes, E. & Wang, E.C. These experiences will enrich your childrens lives in meaningful ways and teach them about a beautiful and special culture. Having culture in early childhood is great for the little ones so they know where they came from and they can be proud of who they are. Whilst working in early childhood, Jessica naturally found herself supporting educators to become more culturally aware and confident in embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in their program. How preschool experiences can improve the early learning and long term outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. For the majority of non-Indigenous early childhood educators, the key to authentically engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures is cultural competence, according to the Educators Guide to the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). Respect trumps harmony5 leadership lessons from the worlds toughest workplace, How to effectively reflect, record and engage children. $77 million investment to bolster new Aboriginal cultural heritage system Similarly, Greenwood et al. The Wellbeing Framework supports schools to create learning environments that enable students to be healthy, happy, engaged and successful. A very important and interesting topic to discuss. Early childhood education programs supporting Aboriginal children; . National Quality Framework (NQF) eLearning modules, Quality Support Program Dual Program Pathways, Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) resources, developing an awareness of the traditional custodians of the land and the language/s spoken, working collaboratively with children, families and the local community to develop an Acknowledgment of Country that signifies respect for Aboriginal culture, exploring the connectedness to the land and respect for community protocols, sensory exploration and responsiveness to the natural environment through play, exploration of how living things are interconnected and the interdependence between land, people, plants and animals. We want to show all of our children the pathway and guide them in culture and bring culture back because we lost it and we really need to get that back.. The inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives can be linked to each of the seven quality areas of the National Quality Framework. The article is very interesting and I agree that sometimes educators are not so confident to implement/teach cultural diversity. The sooner children begin to learn about indigenous culture, the sooner it becomes a part of their normal, everyday life. =+g8;~ X*4#,/_@vjq:gV^}36`)mve=@K/!Nvkxre{=}m1ELM=$s+ Judith has a passion for making a difference for Aboriginal children in their formative years. 184 0 obj <> endobj This article draws attention to some of the limited but important research of relevance to better supporting children and families from diverse cultures. Just like crafts, activities, and videos -- there are tons of resources online geared toward teaching children about indigenous culture. Plus, information for parents including how to choose a service and supporting your child for their transition to school. You can read them picture books that incorporate indigenous culture or guide them toward some TV shows that offer insight into indigenous culture. And, one day, theyll teach their children about it, too! 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. This article seeks to raise awareness, promote a better understanding and take responsive action in honouring cultural diversity through ECEC services in two ways. Additionally, Aboriginal art seems to be a highly controversial subject of which there is lots of conflicting advice. Feedback from the educators included that the teacher resources provided a good starting point for the incorporation of Indigenous perspectives in the preschool curriculum. Sorry, the content of this store can't be seen by a younger audience. By sharing the knowledge, I hope that teachers can feel confident in sharing the culture in their own early learning centres, through the ideas, activities and dreaming stories found here. Where to for the registration of early childhood teachers? ACECQAs National Education Leader, Rhonda Livingstoneprovides insight into National Quality Framework topics of interest. 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. Preserving Indigenous languages - The Spoke - Early Childhood Australia Read the Australian educators understanding of cultural expression also seemed one-dimensional. Importantly, as research by Leon Straker et al points out, the inclusion of digital technology in ECEC settings is framed within an expectation that it will be used in collaboration with adults for intentional teaching. 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. Whilst the Koori Curriculum principles are useful as a guide the obstacle that most educators face is developing their own cultural confidence and capacity. Are children who walk and talk early geniuses in the making? 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. Dr Somayeh Ba Akhlagh lectures in early childhood education at the University of New England (UNE). 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. Theyre capable of handling it and were here to help you navigate these lessons with them. How languages link us to our individual identity, traditional culture, memory and the importance of Indigenous languages in your service. Watch how Indigenous early childhood educators extend on children's experiences through cultural knowledges and ways of learning. Shandell Washington is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mentor in Toowoomba. Bringing Indigenous Dance into the Primary Classroom. So, the critical years from birth to the age of eight are ideal for introducing the concepts of cultural diversity. Children love making art, so make the connection and teach them about aboriginal culture by making an art project. The judicious use of digital technology in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings is supported in Outcome 5 of the EYLF and through national guidelines on screen time of up to an hour a day for children aged two to five years. PDF 1 Outcome 1: Children Have a Strong Sense of Identity - Acecqa Yera Childrens Service educator Keiryn Christodoulou incorporated all episodes of Little J & Big Cuz into her early childhood groups social and emotional development program. Error It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Whilst these experiences may be touristy, everyone needs to begin somewhere. With my many years experience, I have developed programs, resources and games to make learning about our Aboriginal Culture, in the early childhood centres, a fun and memorable experience for the children, in an age appropriate manner. Overall, these teachings help us learn and understand more about topics we encounter every day. 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. This funding supplements mainstream Commonwealth support in childcare, pre-school, health . Joining supportive online learning communities such as the Koori Curriculum Educator Community on Facebook. Early Childhood Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are twice as likely as other children to be developmentally vulnerable when they start school. Research conducted by the Australian Council for Educational Research suggests providing children with opportunities to watch how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families relate to each other, and to non-Indigenous people, can with teacher guidance enable children to reflect on how to see and interact with cultures other than their own. Others reported lunchbox bullying when being instructed to replace traditional nutritional food with cheese sandwiches for instance, whilst simultaneously being invited to prepare the same food for celebratory purposes (p.9) on multiculturalism at the service. Perspectives of children from refugee backgrounds on their family storytelling as a culturally sustaining practice. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. 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. If we want to create a society that values diversity, we must start instilling an appreciation for multiculturalism in young children as early as possible. This is enshrined in both Australia's Education and Care Services National Law and the National Quality Framework. Honouring cultural diversity involves collaboration between children, families, and teachers as well as those beyond EC services. There is a growing body of research on childrens awareness and understandings about race, culture and discrimination and their sense of identity and justice for others. We pay respect to Elders past and present as ongoing teachers of knowledge, songlines and stories. ACECQAs monthly newsletters highlight the latest news and information on the NQF. (2007) points out that early childhood education should socialize children into their . Lamb, C. (2019). Copyright 2020 Aboriginal Culture in Early Years - All Rights Reserved. Movement experiences could involvelearning of traditional and contemporary Aboriginal dance movements, or kids could create new movements by mimicking Australian animals. Aborigines loved making art. Research focusing on young children from specific cultures or circumstances of being refugees or asylum seekers, is somewhat scarce. Do you want me to be with your child or photograph your child? Despite recent efforts to bridge the gap, men remain underrepresented in the education sector due to cultural, social, and political attitudes. Adam, H. J., Barratt-Pugh, C., Jackson-Barrett, L., & Somerville, R.S. This provides rich opportunities to build a culture of understanding and respect for the environment for all children. Learn more about Aboriginal Studies and Press and purchase their books from the AIATSIS Shop. Exploring the context of your service may include: Perspectives on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competence, Child Australia Cultural connections booklet, Indigenous Culture: It's everybody's business. Come back when you're older. 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. Published on Tuesday, 28 September 2021 President Nelson Mandela's statement says it all: " There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children.". This will help them see, experience, and reinforce the concepts they have learned through the ideas and activities you have used to teach them. ACECQA spoke with Judith McKay-Tempest, a proud Wiradjuri woman and an Associate Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at Macquarie University. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603110701433964, http://thespoke.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/quality-professional-learning-look-like-early-childhood-teachers/. Exploring the context of your service may include: The Koori Curriculum has recently created an online Facebook group for families who are wanting . A number of episodes have been revoiced in Indigenous languages and are also available to stream. Required fields are marked *. %%EOF Anything in here will be replaced on browsers that support the canvas element. The Aboriginal pedagogy framework is expressed as eight interconnected pedagogies. Here are some suggestions for engaging with local Aboriginal communities: Embed Indigenous culture in your practice. Shandell also works as an educator at the Learning Pathways Kindergarten in Toowoomba. How to Teach Young Children About Indigenous Culture When you . 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. Teachers must follow protocols for teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Attend local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community events. We strive to ensure every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learner in NSW achieves their potential through education. The episode Hopalong was played in the Arrernte language while the educator read out the English subtitles until the children asked the educator to be quiet as they found this episode self-explanatory even in a language other than English. The television series was integrated into the transition from play to lunchtime. Childrens books must be diverse, or kids will grow up believing white is superior. Specifically, as teachers of young children you can make a difference in promoting peace and harmony in our communities, so that Australia becomes a truly awesome place to live, for all of us! In 1990, the Australian parliament ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Little J & Big Cuz has been used at Morphett Vale East Kindergarten as a transition activity between a meal break and the scheduled program of learning. Due to lack of reliable data it is impossible to scope the size of this population of children either attending or not involved in any ECEC services in Australia. hbbd```b``Q i )DkFX "} R! "feA)6 Dl + . Thank you for being bold and addressing this topic, bringing to the fore an awareness where there has been a lack of. By sharing the knowledge, I hope that teachers can feel confident in sharing the culture in their own early learning centres, through the ideas, activities and dreaming stories found here. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 28(2), 1-20. The NSW Department of Education recognise the traditional Custodians of the lands and waterways where we work and live. This provides rich opportunities to build a culture of understanding and respect for the environment for all children. Keiryn said the educator resources were authentic and resonated with the childrens own experiences. The National Education Leader of the Australian Childrens Education and Care Quality Authority, Rhonda Livingstone, explains that cultural competence is the ability to understand, communicate with and effectively interact with people across cultures. Watch 5m 0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 90% 00:00 00:00 Dust Echoes, Ep 12: The Mimis The tools and technologies mentioned were familiar to the children because several of them go camping with their families. Early Childhood Development | National Indigenous Australians Agency - NIAA Cultural competence - We Hear You Remind them of what they have learned, make connections when you can, and choose activities for them that continuously expose them to the culture. story behind the song. (2020). Holistically programming and planning to embed an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective in context to childrens interests. 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. CULTURAL COMPETENCY: WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT 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. 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