At North Ainslie Primary School, we are committed to reconciliation, engaging with our Indigenous Elders, and learning from them. We adhere to the ACT Framework for Cultural Integrity in ACT Public Schools.
We are guided by the three domains and use these as our touchstones.
1. Teach with cultural integrity
2. Engage with students, families, and community
3. Build a culture of respect
We have an Indigenous Education Officer on our staff who works alongside teachers to ensure our curriculum and teaching practices include First Nation’s Perspectives, are culturally sensitive, and embedded within the Eight Ways of Learning https://www.8ways.online/
Our First Nation students are supported to deepen their connection to their culture with weekly sessions with our Indigenous Education Officer through yarning circles.
Our student leadership program includes Indigenous Leaders and their Allies who work together to lead cultural integrity and practices within the school.
Other opportunities our students have include:
- Participation in Buroinjin games within the school, at our school Athletics carnival, and representing the school at ACT buroinjin carnivals,
- Learning on Country either within our school grounds, or on Mount Ainslie.
Our school oval is designed with First Nations perspectives in mind. At the centre sits a yarning circle where students and staff can come together to talk, learn, and reflect.
Our school sporting houses are named using Ngunnawal language:
· Bangu – Greater Gliders
· Bidjiwang – Grassland Dragons
· Murunung – Murray Crayfish
· Galaannga – Corroborree Frogs
Our school has also been gifted the use of the words –wagabaliri (play), binyin (discover), and winnggaay (learn) by Ngunnawal Elders to be used around our school grounds.