Indigenous artwork, stories and bush tucker are some of the ways NAIDOC week will be celebrated by children at Goodstart Marrickville.
Centre director Sarah Benjamin said NAIDOC Week is the perfect time to explore our Indigenous Australian culture and history with children.
“This year we have planned some wonderful activities for NAIDOC Week. Each child in the centre will be creating their own unique artwork, a giant hand, which they will decorate and we will create a display showing our sea of hands,” Ms Benjamin said.
“Our toddler and preschool children are going on an excursion on Tuesday to the local park for the Inner West Regional NAIDOC Festival. They’ll get to meet our local Elders, see the animal wildlife display and enjoy other activities on the day including an Indigenous art workshop.
“Children will also visit Marrickville Library on Wednesday for Songlines Storytime and a bush tucker morning tea.
“We have an important role to play as educators to ensure children understand and respect our unique Indigenous culture, heritage and perspectives.
“NAIDOC Week is a special celebration in our centre and every year we find new ways to create meaningful learning experiences.”
NAIDOC Week is celebrated across the country from 2-9 July. This year’s theme ‘Our Languages Matter’ aims to celebrate the essential role that Indigenous languages play in both cultural identity, linking people to their land and water, and in the transmission of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, spirituality and rites, through story and song.