First Nations in Education

While most research in cross-cultural education has been directed at finding out how Indigenous students learn from the non-Indigenous teacher, this study asks a different question, namely how does an Indigenous student learn outside the non-indigenous teacher's power and knowledge in the cross-cultural classroom?

"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education: An Introduction for the Teaching Profession prepares students for the classroom and community environments they will encounter when teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in urban, rural and remote schools at early childhood, primary and secondary levels. The book addresses many issues and challenges faced by teacher education students and assists them to understand the deeper social, cultural and historical context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education. This is a unique textbook written by a team of highly regarded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academics. Each chapter opens with an engaging anecdote from the author, connecting learning to real-world issues. This is also the first textbook to address Torres Strait Islander education. Written in an engaging and accessible style, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education is an essential resource for teacher education students."--publisher website.

Teaching Aboriginal Studies is a practical guide for classroom teachers in primary and secondary schools, as well as student teachers, across Australia. Chapters on Aboriginal history and culture, stereotypes and racism, government policies and reconciliation provide essential knowledge for integrating Aboriginal history and culture, issues and perspectives across the curriculum.

Two Way Teaching and Learning addresses the coalface of this revolution where two cultures meet; in the classroom, the school, the community, and in both state and national education curricula. Contributors are mostly highly experienced Indigenous practitioners drawn from academia, the teaching profession and the community. They put the spotlight on policies and processes that serve to either facilitate an informed, respectful relationship in education, or act to reinforce cultural inequity and inequality. Policy implications that can be liberating or devastating for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Australian school systems are exposed and explored with forensic care. Each practitioner articulates specific problems, and offers practical strategies that make a difference.

Although the demand for pre-service teachers to be better informed about indigenous issues in Australia has been broadly articulated, indigenous studies is a reasonably new area of study to universities, as is the definition of what is meant by 'indigenous education'. This book is motivated by the growing necessity for an approach to indigenous education that would include more than just a summarising of indigenous history and traditional culture.

Examining the impact of initiatives such as the Shared Responsibility Agreements, the Follow the Dream program, the NT Intervention, Noel Pearsons blueprint for educational reform on Cape York, and drawing on data from numerous sources including the MySchool website, Reform and Resistance in Aboriginal Education provides a comprehensive look at the effects on Indigenous students of these reform efforts.

This book and accompanying DVD of Dreaming stories introduces young children to a number of concepts such as explaining the seasons, life cycles, the importance of rain and responsibility for the environment; appreciating diversity in appearance, language and culture; exploring emotional concepts such as jealousy, fairness and the value of sharing; encouraging communication, cooperation and teamwork; and activities involving music, movement, art and computer design. The Dreaming stories are an important part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's cultural heritage and are the world's longest continuous record of historic events and spirituality, providing valuable wisdom for all people.

Bakir and Bi is based on a Torres Strait Islander creation story with illustrations by 18-year-old Tori-Jay Mordey.

Renee Fogorty shows that prejudice has no boundaries and that it occurs within and between cultural groups. Her personal perspective makes Fair Skin Black Fella a tale of universal experience that many young readers will identify with

We use the bush as our school and as our playground, says one of the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people whose voices combine in this anthology of true stories about childhood, compiled from a wide range of memoirs and oral histories.

This is the story of Dingo, Wombat, Crow and their friends as they struggle to exist alongside the devastation of mining that is tearing up their beautiful homeland. This powerful children's parable/cautionary tale on the destruction and havoc that mining causes to the land and to community is both touching and hard-hitting.

Renowned artist Bronwyn Bancroft tells her inspiring story of growing up in country New South Wales.

"It is about Australian words - flora, fauna and aboriginal cultural objects. It is highly illustrated with aboriginal art and has an introduction for children into aboriginal words"--Provided by publisher.
For primary school age.

Albert Cutts is a tree feller. A fella who cuts down trees. Fog is a fox cub raised by a dingo. He's called a dox because people are suspicious of foxes and Albert Cutts owns the dingo and now the dox. Albert is a bushman and lives a remote life surrounded by animals and birds. All goes well until Albert has an accident. This is a story of courage, acceptance and respect. It is reminiscent of the gentle story-telling style of Australian author Alan Marshall (I can jump puddles). The dialogue is finely crafted and Indigenous cultural knowledge and awareness are seamlessly integrated into the story.

A landmark publication from an acclaimed team - a beautiful and exciting picture book containing a message of hope. Nadia Wheatley and Ken Searle help sixteen children from eight schools in south-west Sydney explore their local environment and work collaboratively on art and writing. Ages 7-12.

How did turtle get his shell? Why do young koalas cling to their mothers' backs? How was the mighty Murray River created? Ten witty retellings of legends from the Yorta Yorta people to delight readers of all ages. -- Library catalogue