Indigenous Connections

KENDALL COMMUNITY PRESCHOOL AND THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY – SUPPORTING INCLUSIVE PRACTICES

Kendall Community Preschool is committed to building and maintaining positive, respectful relationships with the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which the preschool stands: the Biripi People. Regular consultation with key community members, including Elders and recognised community members, Land Councils and local families has been identified as the most appropriate means for building positive relationships. We are committed to providing all children and families with real, meaningful experiences that build respect and knowledge for Aboriginal People, the Aboriginal Culture and this place where we currently learn and grow.

We believe the Aboriginal Community provides important knowledge for developing environmentally sustainable practices, and we value the knowledge and stories that is shared with the preschool community. Recognition of the Traditional Custodians of the Land is more than the creation of a sign or the addition of a flag, and means we need to consider carefully how we represent ideas and information in ways that promote respect and community and go some way towards reconciliation.

Over time we plan to introduce the Gatthang language, local totems and arts of the Biripi people to children and families in formal and informal ways, by connecting with local indigenous representatives and continuing to encourage engagement with these things as part of daily experiences at preschool.

We plan to work closely with artists to share knowledge through story, visual arts, dance and drama and to create an environment that represents the value of inclusion for all children and families, in ways that promote community.

We believe the sharing of information and knowledge during the early years is a critical part of building positive relationships that bind communities. Sharing stories about the land, including Biripi totems, significant landmarks, and traditional knowledge is a step towards providing a holistic education for all children and families.

We have set up an environment that provides opportunities for community members to link with children and traditional learning, through weaving, storytelling, exploration of bush tucker, including Sugar Bag, a product of our native bees.

We are excited about our future direction, and recognise the time and space required to build and maintain respectful relationships with the Aboriginal Community. Through collaboration, children, families and the wider community will benefit from intentional interactions that lead to respect, and create meaningful learning experiences from Traditional Practices and ways of learning.

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