Aboriginal Education News
Yaama,
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day is our national day dedicated to celebrating our children. Children’s Day is celebrated across the country each year on 4 August.
Children’s Day is a time when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities and all Australians celebrate the strengths and culture of our children. It is an opportunity for us to show our support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, as well as learn about the crucial impact that culture, family and community play in the life of every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities have provided love and care for their children, growing them up strong and safe in their cultural traditions, for thousands of generations. For our children, safety, well-being and development are closely linked to the strengths of their connections with family, community, culture, language, and Country.
Here is a short clip about Aboriginal Children’s Day.
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At St Kevin’s we will have some fun activities to do in class to celebrate Aboriginal Children’s Day, including stories connecting us to Spirit through The Dreaming, exploring what a Coolamon is, colouring and drawing, hearing from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children about their culture and what it means to them.
They said it best…..
Here are some ‘Dreaming’ reflections from Year 5/6 students.
Back in the Dreaming Baiame created life, he created the sun, Punaal and the moon, Ponto-Boone. He created the first life. He also created water, land, animals, hills, mountains, rivers, lakes, oceans and caves. Baiame was proud. He wanted to create people in his image. He gave them access to fruit, water and all creatures in the world for food and water and to live. He was proud of his beautiful creation. (Jonathan)
Gather around children,
As I tell you a story older than time,
These stories have been shared over many generations,
Our ancestors created them for us to share,
It’s about our past and history,
Baiame created the world for us to live in peace,
He created Punaal and Ponto-Boone,
The animals and the land,
Now let’s get ready to learn some more. (Mia B.)
Tiddalik the greedy frog and how he drank the bog,
How the kind kangaroo gave her heart to a wombat she never knew
And how her pouch grew
And how the rainbow serpent was finally accepted but then suddenly neglected
And her only friend, the loneliness she once knew which always grew. (Hudson)
Yaluu ngali ngamilay (We will see each other again).
Phil Taylor
Aboriginal Education Teacher