2023 Camping Day in Honour of Reconciliation

At Baringa we value and embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of being and knowing into our educational programs and learning environments all year long. We also take every opportunity to celebrate significant events that highlight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, languages and perspectives.

In 2023 Baringa celebrated our annual Camping Day in Honour of Reconciliation. We had so much fun camping around our Yarning Circle and fire pit, singing and dancing along with Uncle Johnny Huckle, painting some pebbles, going on scavenger hunts, fishing in our pond, listening to Michael play the guitar, cooking and eating damper AND roasting and eating some yummy marshmallows!

We are so grateful that we get to host and participate in events like Camping Day in Honour of Reconciliation on beautiful Ngunnawal Country.

2022 Celebrating NAIDOC week

NAIDOC week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about and acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.

At Baringa we embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives every day at our service through our environments and educational practices, so it is extra special when we can continue and extend on this during NAIDOC week.

Everyday in morning group times, all Baringa children and educators pay their respects to the traditional custodians of the land with an acknowledgment of country. In the Acacia room there are beautiful art displays and furnishings designed by Indigenous artists, and the Acacia children have been inspired to create some of their own art to display in the room.

During NAIDOC Week we continue to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in;

-Literacy, eg: books written and designed by Indigenous Australians.

-Yarning circles around pretend campfires to read stories and sing songs together.

-Arts and crafts, and Scavenger Hunts.

To learn more about how we celebrated NAIDOC Week in 2022 please click here.

2021 ACT Government Reconciliation Day Grant

In May 2021, we were proud and excited to receive news from Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA that Baringa is the successful recipient of an ACT Government Reconciliation Day Grant! The grant will help us to further embed recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture into our Centre, in an age-appropriate way.

A big thank you to Ronnie Jordan of Culture on the Move, who is collaborating with us to paint Aboriginal murals and provide the children with a Reconciliation Day cultural workshop. We feel privileged to have Ronnie pass on her cultural knowledge in a practical, fun, play-based and respectful way.

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2021 Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony

In 2021, we continue on our reconciliation journey to create a foundation for our Baringa community. On 23 February we held a Smoking Ceremony in collaboration with members of the local Indigenous community, Wiradjuri Echoes’ Duncan and Jakida Smith, Violet Sheridan and Adam Shipp of Yurbay, who have been and continue to be incredibly supportive of our journey.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us, including Yvette Berry, Minister for Early Childhood Development, our RAP Working Group, Board Members, families and children. Together with the help of families and the community, we are in a unique position to contribute to a future where reconciliation is not something we do, but something which is.

2020 Bush Tucker Garden Smoking Ceremony

On 10 July 2020, we officially launched the first Baringa Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) with our Bush Tucker Garden Smoking Ceremony.

We were honoured to have Ngunnawal Elder, Violet Sheridan for the Welcome to Country, Wiradjuri Echoes' Duncan and Jakida Smith for the Smoking Ceremony and children's cultural workshop, Yurbay's Adam Shipp and Narelle Hutchings who created our Bush Tucker Garden.

Thank you Reconciliation Australia for endorsing our first Baringa Reconciliation Action Plan and to our RAP Working Group for their effort and commitment. We are grateful for the support of the ACT Government’s Cultural Grant which helped us embed cultural perspectives in our ongoing education program.

OUR SMOKING CEREMONY
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2020 Reconciliation: An educator’s journey

Congratulations to our wonderful Early Childhood Teacher Carmen Ulrick for her publication in Early Childhood Australia's Every Child Magazine.

Carmen's article "Reconciliation: An educator's journey" provides an inspiring story of her growth in connecting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture. Essential to this journey has been the amazing relationships that Baringa has had the privilege of building with our local community members.

Thank you Carmen for inspiring us all to keep learning and strengthening our commitment to Reconciliation.

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2019 Walking a slow path for long-term change

In 2019 our Executive Officer, PJ Aguilar, shared how our Baringa educators were integral in the centre developing our first Reconciliation Action Plan. We are very pleased to share with you her article Walking a slow path for long-term change, published in Every Child magazine vol. 25, no. 4.

The article shares a heartwarming story of uncertainty, reflection, learning and commitment to reconciliation.