ELC News 

A visit from Aunty Karan, our Indigenous Educator

Tamara Bryan and Jo Laughlin, ELC Teachers 

The ELC children were privileged to have Karan Kent, our Indigenous Educator, visit and teach us about her culture and the importance of mindfulness.

Aunty Karan began with her Acknowledgment of Country and, in turn, we shared our own ELC Acknowledgment. Aunty Karan discussed the Aboriginal flag and what the colours mean – the black represents the people, the yellow is the sun and the red is the land.  

While tapping their hands, the children then learnt a new song called Wake up the Land, a song to Mother Earth to wake up the land. 

Aunty Karan shared a selection of Aboriginal instruments and objects that had been made from different parts of a tree: clapping sticks, a seed shaker, rain sticks and a thundermaker - a definite favourite! They were also shown a wooden shield for a child and adult and a coolamon (a water or food bowl). 

Sport and playing games is popular in the Aboriginal culture, and Aunty Karan showed the children a possum skin which was used to make 'footballs'.  The skin is also used for bedding, to carry a baby and to keep people as warm as a coat.

To finish the visit, Aunty Karan encouraged the children to close their eyes and listen to the sounds of nature. The children commented on the different birds, cars and train sounds they could hear. Sitting on our indigenous mat, in amongst our gum trees, was how we finished our time with Aunty Karan.  

We were so excited to have Aunty Karan visit us, and we look forward to Karan’s next visit in Term 2. It is intended that Aunty Karan's visit will enable the children to build a relationship with her and learn more about her culture and mindfulness.