The Inclusion of Aboriginal Knowledge Systems in the Early Childhood Space
Aboriginal knowledge systems have been formed over many, many thousands of years of close association with the land and waters upon which we now call Australia. This long term observation and connection to place has meant that Aboriginal Nations across this country hold within them rich, deep and detailed understandings of the world around us; of the weather systems, the stars, the life cycles of the plants and animals, of the landscape and waters themselves. These understandings formed for survival, and informed the social, physical and spiritual understanding of a person’s Country. Ensuring that such knowledge is valued and shared in our children’s education settings has the potential to help our kids to think more broadly and outside of their own perspectives. By considering something through a different cultural lens, children are encouraged to think ‘outside the box’, and the result is innovative solutions and thinking processes; characteristics we need our children to possess in today’s rapidly changing world.
One might think that applying Aboriginal knowledge systems to the early years might be a difficult thing to do; where to start? The reality is, equipped with the right resources and understandings, early childhood educators are in fact in the perfect position to introduce Aboriginal knowledge systems to our young children; for it is in these early years when the formative learning patterns of children are being developed; these years are indeed critical, and it is in these years which we need to ensure children have exposure to different perspectives to Western ways of thinking, knowing and doing.
The first thing educators can do is to look to their local Aboriginal culture; to engage with local Aboriginal groups, teachers and elders and seek out ways that they can work with people to bring Aboriginal knowledge systems into their learning settings. There are a wide range of Aboriginal incursions and excursions available all across the country; Botanic gardens for example, often have guided walks with Indigenous tour guides who will share with you knowledge about the local plants and animals of that area, of bush foods and medicines etc. This is a great way to engage your kindergarten aged children in exploring Indigenous knowledge.
There are also a range of external websites which have detailed information about Indigenous knowledge systems; educators can look to these to learn more themselves, knowledge which they can then share back with their children. The Bureau of Meteorology for example has a fabulous website on Indigenous Weather Knowledge. Common Ground is another very informative website.
Bringing Aboriginal Knowledge into the early learning space has the potential to set up our children to be lifelong, respectful learners; to teach them to be inquisitive about the world around them, and to see things through the eyes of others; it truly can help to create empathetic individuals who place value on the perspectives of others.
