
26th January – Celebrating 65,000 years of Indigenous Knowledges
Australia’s national day should be a time for celebration, reflection, and unity. The Australia Day website suggests that 26th January is a day to reflect on what it means to be Australian, to celebrate contemporary Australia and acknowledge our history.
On our national day we can reflect on our complete and complex history and understand that acknowledging and reconciling our past helps lay a path to a stronger future. We respect and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ survival, resilience and over 65,000 years of continuous culture.[1]
A starting point for our reflection might be to contemplate the incongruous juxtaposition of being asked to celebrate 65,000 years of continuous culture on a day that marks the landing of the First Fleet in Warrane (Sydney Cove) and the raising of the Union Flag of Great Britian on Gadigal country.
At the Stronger Smarter Institute, we would encourage all Australians to take this time to reflect much more deeply. If we are to come together as a nation, to build an inclusive and respectful future, we need to go well beyond simply acknowledging our past.
Listening to history
“Let no-one say the past is dead, the past is all about us and within.” – Oodgeroo Noonuccal [2]
This year the National Reconciliation Week Theme [3] is ‘Bridging Now to Next’ which urges us to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us. Reconciliation Australia say that this theme calls on Australians to step forward together.
Every Australian has a duty to make sure they know the true history of our country but also the beauty and depth of our First Nations knowledges and culture. Our schools are key places for truth telling and sharing history, and we need our educators to be at the forefront of learning and then teaching an unbiased account of Australia’s histories.
Listening to and understanding our First Nations history fosters respect and empathy and promotes reconciliation and healing. We can only move forward together if all Australians understand the impacts and challenges of colonisation, and value the complex, sophisticated societies, cultures and knowledge systems of the past 65,000 years.
“We cannot live in the past, but the past lives in us.”
Charles Perkins [4]
Celebrating Indigenous Knowledges
If we are to come together to honour the foundations of our nation, it is crucial for all non-Indigenous Australians to learn about the rich knowledge of our First Nations peoples.
Indigenous Knowledges (IK) in Australia, and around the world, encompass a deep wisdom about the environment, medicine, art, and community. At the Institute, we seek to forefront these invaluable resources that have been refined over thousands of generations. The IK world view that understands the connectedness of the world, and the role that we as humans play as part of that connected whole can teach us much about ensuring sustainable environmental practices.
We encourage all educators, particularly those teaching STEM subjects, to dive deeper into understanding how the two knowledge systems can weave together to enrich our understanding of the world and pave the way for future innovations.
Learning about First Nations history and Indigenous Knowledges is essential for creating a shared future where all Australians feel valued and included. It empowers us to challenge stereotypes, address injustices, and work together towards a society that respects and celebrates diversity.
What you can do
- Educate Yourself: We encourage you to seek as many resources as you can to learn about Indigenous Knowledges. Below we suggest a few books, as well as some online curriculum resources. These are a starting point. We encourage you to seek out any resources created by First Nations people from your local area or endorsed by First Nations experts. Teachers must be able to critically reflect on their positionality and the AIATSIS Guide to evaluate and select education resources provides that framework.
- Attend a Stronger Smarter Program: If you haven’t attended a Stronger Smarter program or undertaken our online module, this is also a good place to start. The Stronger Smarter Leadership Program supports educators to enact the Stronger Smarter Approach in schools and classrooms.
- Listen and Learn: Take the time to listen to the stories and experiences of First Nations Australians. Show your support by participating in community discussions and events and finding out more about First Nations businesses and artists.
- Donate to the Stronger Smarter Institute: Support us as we continue to advocate for policies and programs that will seek to provide our First Nations students with an education where they can dream, believe and succeed.
As we celebrate Australia Day, let us commit to learning and growing together. By embracing our shared history and valuing Indigenous Knowledges, we can build a more inclusive, respectful, and united Australia: one that we can all be proud of, for the benefit of all Australians.
A few resources
Books
- Pascoe, B. (2014). Dark Emu. Magabala Books
- Steffensen, V. (2020). Fire Country: How Indigenous Fire Management Could Help Save Australia. Hardie Grant Explore.
- Sveiby, K-E & Skuthorpe, T. (2006). Treading Lightly: The hidden wisdom of the world’s oldest people. Allen & Unwin
- Davis, J. (2024). Strength Basing, Empowering and Regenerating Indigenous Knowledge Education: Riteway Flows. Routledge.
Online Resources
- AIATSIS Guide to evaluating and selecting education resources
- AIATSIS Curriculum Resources
- Mathematics Hub – resources (developed by the Stronger Smarter Institute) to inspire teachers of mathematics to see the connections between mathematics and First Nations peoples’ historied and cultures.
- The Narragunnawali program has tools and resources for schools and early learning services to take action towards reconciliation between non-First Nations Australians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- Curriculum Resources from Ngarrngga – resources made in collaboration with Indigenous Knowledge experts
- CSIRO – an eLearning course designed to guide educators in building inclusive learning environments through cultural awareness and community engagement.
- Australian Curriculum – Science Elaborations addressing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures.
Join us for a program!
Our program calendar is now open. If you haven’t already undertaken our Stronger Smarter Leadership Program, make sure you join us this year.
Donate Now!
Donate Now to help us develop new and innovative programs and continue to advocate for change to support First Nations students across the country.
Footnotes:
[i] https://www.australiaday.org.au/about
[ii] https://charlie.csu.edu.au/2020/07/30/poets-of-australia-1-oodgeroo-of-the-noonuccal/
[iii] https://www.reconciliation.org.au/bridging-now-to-next-nrw-2025/
[iv] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-16/boyer-lecture-rachel-perkins-echoes-uluru-statement/11696504