Acknowledgement to Country
Merri Community Childcare and Kindergarten Inc would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which we live, work and learn, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We would like to pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and we recognise their continuing spiritual connection to culture, land, water and community.
VISION FOR RECONCILIATION
Merri Community Childcare and Kindergarten Inc.’s vision for reconciliation begins with our acknowledgement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia. We regret the impacts on families, cultural identities, lands and waters, languages and communities by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as a result of colonisation. This shared history affects us all and we endeavour to work toward developing our children’s, educators and families’ understanding of the ways in which colonisation and racism continue to impact.
We also acknowledge that reconciliation is about valuing and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and strengths. We strive to build authentic and respectful relationships with local Aboriginal community and learn their histories, languages and stories, as well as celebrate achievements.
We realise the importance of including children from a young age, to grow and learn and build a deeper understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to create a future for all children and their families that is equitable, just and promotes the well-being of all Australians.
Our vision for reconciliation is informed by our principles of inclusiveness, diversity and community, as well as our commitment to uphold the United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
We understand that reconciliation is a continuous and evolving process. We strive to increase our knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and are committed to bringing our vision to life through every aspect of our curriculum and through each member of staff in meaningful ways.
Reconciliation Action Plan
At Merri we are committed to acknowledging Aboriginal People as the first people of Australia, and work towards developing our children’s, educators and families understanding of our shared history.
Merri CCCK Inc we strongly believe that our non-Indigenous Educators play are pivotal role in embedding Indigenous perspectives within our programs given they make up most of the teaching force in Australia. Our children are being taught to understand who Australia’s First People are by singing traditional songs, playing traditional games and learning from the stories. On Sunday the 17th of March 2019 at our Annual family Welcome Picnic Merri proudly celebrated the launch of our Reconciliation Action Plan.
Celebrating at the park was a fantastic way to share the experience with locals as passersby were treated to a traditional experience when Uncle Bill Nicholson lead a Welcome to Country with a Smoking Ceremony. He reminded us the significance of living in harmony with our land.
The Lord Mayor Susan Rennie also spoke at the event which marked the end of Multicultural Week and emphasized the significance of our community leading the way towards embracing our heritage in line with Australia’s First People and respecting all cultures.
