National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The dates for NRW are the same each year; 27 May to 3 June. Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

In the ELC, the children have been involved in numerous activities this week that have brought awareness and educated them in the ways we pay respect and take positive action towards our First Nations People. This has focused on the cultural and traditions of First Nations people and has included:

• walking along the ‘Path to Reconciliation’ walk, which includes posters and information about key historical events that are part of the Reconciliation process in Australia.
• learning about the different countries and language groups within Australia through watching the Playschool episodes “Welcome to country” and “Walking together”
• discussion about the concept that “actions speak louder than words”, considering how our actions influence and affect others. Creating and painting hand artwork to represent us putting up our hand to “take action”
• exploring the artwork of Dr. Bronwyn Bancroft, a proud Bundjalung Woman and Artist. Using her books as a guide, Senior Kinder children created their own pieces which have been hung on display.
• learning about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags and having a go at painting our own.
• examining the Reconciliation Week poster and creating plasticine pictures in the style of Warumungu/Wombaya artist Jessica Johnson.
• following children’s interests in football and using different Aboriginal symbols and patterns to create our own outfits from the AFL Indigenous Round.
• singing Indigenous songs, such as Inanay and Ngaya Naba.
• participating in an online NGV session about the exhibition Big Weather, learning about the importance of weather to the Indigenous People.
• matching games with Indigenous symbols and learning how they were used to tell stories and communicate with each other.

With so much explored, we still have so much more to learn. We look forward to our continued learning from Reconciliation Week and beyond.

The ELC Educational Team