[Gentle music]
[On-screen Text: Cultural Knowledge Story: Ochre Artwork
Cultural Knowledge Stories created by Dr Sue Atkinson
AM (Yorta Yorta) and read by Annette Sax (Taungurung)
Image Credit: Ochre Artworks by Annette Sax (Taungurung), developed in collaboration with Dr Sue Atkinson AM (Yorta Yorta)]
[On-screen Text: Dr. Sue Atkinson AM Author]
Dr. Sue Atkinson: I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land and waters that we are speaking from today, the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung people, and their Elders, past, present, and emerging.
The Wurundjeri calendar is made up of seven seasons. I would like to thank the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung people for sharing their knowledge of these seasons with us and acknowledge their wisdom in looking after the land and waters in harmony with these seasons by being observant of the types of birds calling, plants flowering, the lifecycle of animals, and the appearance of the sky including the stars and the phases of the moon.
My name is Sue Atkinson, I’m a Yorta Yorta woman with ancestral ties to the Wemba-Wemba people. I have been involved in the Early Childhood field for 50 years, I taught across the preschool, TAFE, and higher education sector before retiring.
More recently, I spent 10 years as a volunteer on a variety of committees, including Action on Aboriginal Perspectives in Early Childhood, AAPEC. Currently, I occasionally work as a freelance writer, and at the moment, I’m working on the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, VEYLDF.
[On-screen Text: Annette Sax Aboriginal Early Childhood Professional Yarn Strong Sista]
Annette Sax: Wawa, my name is Annette Sax, a proud Taungurung woman, artist, educator and cultural storyteller with more than 35 years experience in the early childhood profession.
As one of the two VEYLDF artists whose work complements that of Aunty Dr. Sue Atkinson, Cultural Knowledge Stories, and the VEYLDF Ochre Artist and Designer, I am honoured to contribute artwork that reflects Aboriginal perspectives, identity, culture, and connection to Country.
My work is guided by the cultural knowledge and stories generously shared by my Taungurung Elders, with their permission to pass this knowledge on respectfully.
[Gentle music]
[On-screen Text: Cultural Knowledge Story: Ochre Mountain
Practice Principles - how educators work with children and families]
Annette Sax: Bunjil the Eagle and Waa the Crow represent Aboriginal culture and partnerships with families. The water hole symbolises reflective practice; the gum leaves with their different patterns and colours represent diversity.
The stones underneath the leaves represent equity and inclusion. They reflect the additional support put in place to help all children achieve. The child and adults standing on Ochre Mountain symbolise the high and equitable expectations we hold for children and adults. The family standing on and looking out from Ochre Mountain reflects assessment for learning and development.
Such assessments draw on children’s and families’ perspectives, knowledge, experiences, and expectations. The child and adult figures also represent partnerships between professionals.
The land symbol as mother Earth represents the basis for respectful and reciprocal relationships. The symbols for land, water, and people signify holistic pedagogical practices based on connections to Clan and Country.
[Gentle music]
[On-screen Text: Cultural Knowledge Story: Scar Trees and Message Stick
Learning and Development Outcomes - what children learn over time]
Annette Sax: Gum leaves as bush medicine symbolise connection to wellbeing. The yam daisy represents the survival of a strong Aboriginal identity. The yam daisy was central to the diet of Aboriginal Victorians. It was almost wiped out by colonisation, but has survived.
The family sitting under the scar trees with a message stick and coolamon symbolises communication. The family seated on the land symbolises the child learning through their connection to and involvement with community.
A scar tree is also known as a canoe tree and is a significant artifact. Aboriginal people used the bark of the tree to make a canoe or boat.
[Gentle music]
[On-screen Text: Cultural Knowledge Story: River Stepping Stones
Transitions - how learning continues across settings and stages]
Anette Sax: The river stepping stones represent children and families in transition. The footprints and wheelchair tracks symbolise all abilities.
Animal footprints show children and families walking proudly with culture in transition.
Educators must engage with such pride in culture, with respect and authentic understanding, thereby promoting positive transitions.
[On-screen Text: Dr. Sue Atkinson AM Author]
Sue Atkinson: Thank you for listening to my Cultural Knowledge Stories and connecting to Annette Sax’s, Taungurung, artworks throughout the VEYLDF.
[Gentle music]
[On-screen text:
The Education State
Victoria State Government Logo
Department of Education
vic.gov.au/education]
[End of transcript]
Updated