GEKA Carnegie

Building Respect for Country 

Alisha Kums, Early Childhood Teacher

Embedding Indigenous perspectives in our educational program displays respect for Aboriginal culture and the highlights the value we place on understanding Aboriginal peoples unique place in our community’s past, present and future. At GEKA Carnegie Kindergarten we show our respect for the Boon Wurrung people and look for opportunities to respectfully share Indigenous culture throughout each day.  These moments may be found in group learning experiences, or in small moments with individual children. 

At the beginning of the year, we introduced he children to an Acknowledgement of Country which begins each day for all groups. In our morning group time, children are encouraged to meet on the mat and tune in by helping to say our acknowledgement. Through discussions with the children, we have built our understanding of why we are acknowledging the Boon Wurrung people and what the act of saying our acknowledgement means to us.  We understand that we are on Boon Wurrung Country and that showing respect for Country means helping to care for the land on which we play.

“To say thank you to the Boon Wurrung people because they were here first” – Daphne

“They took care of the land for us” – Grace

“Bunjil made everyone” – Jett

“To say thank you to them for caring for the land so that it was protected and we can be safe” – Eleanor

“We have to take care of the land like the Boon Wurrung people” - Odin

These ideas are strengthened through visiting our Bush space, on the grounds of Carnegie Primary School, where we can put our ideas into action.  Recently our three-year-old group listened to “Welcome to Country”, by Aunty Joy Murphy. They were able to connect the gum leaves mentioned in the story to those found in the trees in the bush space.  

As we played, we collected fallen leaves, noticing the variety of different sizes, shapes and colours that could be found.  While the children collected their bush treasures, I asked whether we should take the leaves from the trees. After considering this question and sharing their thoughts, the children decided that we needed to leave the leaves on the tree so that they could keep growing. They explained that it was important for us to look after the leaves so that other people could enjoy them too.  

Embedding Indigenous perspectives strengthens our ability to provide a program which supports diversity and respect for all people and enhances children’s sense of place in our community.