Experiential Truth Telling beyond fear, blame and denial – the Birrigai First Nations Program
Details:
2:55 – 4:35 pm
4th of December
Room: 4N-120
Peter Kent
Luke Hyatt – Birrigai Aboriginal Ranger
Joel Bulger – Birrigai Aboriginal Ranger
When you live in Australia, a place that has been colonised, the effects of colonisation are so widespread they are almost invisible, that is until we realise what is missing, the perspectives and stories of First Nations people.
As outdoor educators we continually aim to guide experiences that connect students to place. This aim now generates the need for embed ‘truth telling’ within our teaching and learning programs. For the past 3 years, Birrigai Outdoor School has been delivering a successful outdoor experiential Truth Telling Program to upper primary and secondary school students. The program has been adapted for adults and delivered as a whole staff professional learning. The positive impact that this program has generated was recognised in 2023, by being awarded an ACT Public Education Award for Excellence in Cultural Integrity.
This session will describe how the program was created; how community was included; how it was decided ‘what truths to tell?’; how we guide students to experience a taste of the truth; and how it generated deeper more empathetic connections to place amongst those involved.
The session will include time for participants to ask and discuss the difficult questions and issues that are generated by this subject matter.
About the Presenter
Peter is currently the Principal of Birrigai Outdoor School (ACT) and the current President of Outdoor Education Australia.
