JSD - Reconciliation Week: Home

What is Reconciliation Week?

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

Listen to Boori read 'Shake a Leg'

Retell the stories and dances learnt with Boori - the mosquito story, the crocodile story, the honeybee story. Draw the stories, turn them into a book, act them out.

Enjoy these stories by Boori Monty Pryor

Family Stories

Boori and Tess are joined by Auslan interpreter, Amber. Boori tells us about where he grew up, and how his ‘tricky’ mum used stories to keep him and his ten siblings under control. He teaches us that if we listen carefully, stories can make us strong.

Activity: Families love to tell stories - which ones are important to you?

 My Girragundji 

In 1998, Boori’s book My Girragundji won the CBCA Book of the Year award! Boori tells us how a football match, a bored little girl, and a childhood pet frog led to the creation of My Girragundji; and how, 20 years on, the book continues to bring comfort to its readers.

Activity: When you’re feeling worried or scared, what brings you courage?

The Mangroves

Boori takes us up North with a scary story about his favourite place - the beautiful and mysterious mangroves, where danger lurks…

Activity: Why do people love scary stories - can you tell one?

Words and videos from State Library of Victoria

Username and Password can be found in our Online Resources page in Canvas.

Inquiry Questions to Consider

Early Learning

• What does ‘action’ mean? How can we use learning to help us choose what action to take?
• What are some things – such as trust, and respect – that are important in making good friendships or relationships? Why might these elements be important for all Australians to think about when building relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
• What do you think the 2022 NRW poster tell us about identity (being) and learning together (becoming)? How does it represent reconciliation in our minds, hearts and actions?

Lower Primary

• What does the 2022 theme for NRW mean to you? Why is it important?
• What do you think “Be Brave. Make Change” might refer to? Reconciliation takes action. What are some ways to bring words to life in our mind, heart and actions?
• What does ‘action’ mean? How can we use learning to help us choose what action to take? Why is it important to think before we act? 
• What might be some of the shared and different experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia? Why is it important to recognise both the similarities and differences within and across Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities when learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories and cultures?
• What is a ‘journey’? Why do you think the process of reconciliation in Australia is often called a ‘journey’? What are some important actions that have been made in Australia’s reconciliation journey, and what is one next action that you can take to support reconciliation?
• Why is celebrating NRW important to the wider journey of reconciliation? 

Upper Primary

• What does the 2022 theme for NRW mean to you? What do you think “Be Brave. Make Change” might refer to? Reconciliation takes action. What are some ways to bring words to life in our mind, heart and actions?
• What does ‘action’ mean to you? What can stop you from taking action (inaction)? Why is it important to think before we act? What could you— together with others—do to turn learning about reconciliation into meaningful action?
• What does ‘brave’ mean to you? How might ‘being brave’ help you take action towards reconciliation? 
• How can actively recognising both the shared and unique rights, as well as valuing the diverse histories, cultures and contributions, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples strengthen race relations (relationships)? Why is it important to amplify and listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and perspectives, and how can you actively do this?
• What is a ‘journey’? What are some key milestones that have been made in Australia’s reconciliation journey in your lifetime and/or before you were born? What can we learn from these milestones? What are some milestones that you hope will be achieved in the next 20 years of our reconciliation journey, and why? 
• Why is celebrating NRW important to the wider process of reconciliation?

Questions from Narragunnawali website

What is reconciliation?

Reconciliation means different things to different people.

Head (think): What do you already know about reconciliation? Why is history an important part of reconciliation?

Heart (feel): What do/could we feel about reconciliation? How is reconciliation part of our own story?

Hand (act): What are some things that you/we/people could do to help to make reconciliation better? How can we make sure that, in the future, reconciliation will live in our hearts, minds and actions?
 

2021 Artwork

Each year, a competition is run to choose an artwork to represent the annual theme.  The 2021 artwork is 'Action' by Jessica Johnson.  It is the story of the land and community sharing the united call for action on reconciliation.

Unpack the artwork in your class using this lesson or use the See, Think, Wonder Routine.

Create your own poster (optional activity)

As a group, or individually, children can be assisted to create their own NRW poster based on the 2021 theme. While they are creating their poster, encourage them to think about:

• What colours or symbols might help to show reconciliation and show what it means to take action? How? Why?
• What words or phrases they might include to teach people about NRW? 
• Who might individual students or the whole class like to show their poster(s) to, and what are some ways in which the poster(s) could be displayed? (Such as, on school classroom or corridor walks, on the school website or social media pages). How would the students like people to feel, or what would they like them to learn, when they see/read the poster?

• Healing Foundation Schools Resource Kit
• Melbourne University Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Curricula
• Narragunnawali (need to create an account, but this has excellent resources)
• National Reconciliation Week
• Schools Reconciliation Challenge
• Reconciliation Victoria
• Share Our Pride
• Indigenous Language Art competition
• Australians Together

These general education websites also have great content:

• FUSE Education
• ABC Education