Myths in presenting Aboriginal issues in mainstream classrooms

1. Aboriginal Studies and running NAIDOC week are great starting points.
The Curriculum Framework must be your starting point with material such as Aboriginal Studies used as support
materials. The inclusion of Aboriginal content in the curriculum must be seamless.
2. Aboriginal People are different from everyone else.
Aboriginal people have more in common with all other peoples than there are differences. Use this as a foundation to
celebrate the differences. To assist with this, have staff undertake a cultural awareness course.
3. Aboriginal people are the same and will speak with one voice.
The Aboriginal nation consists of many hundreds of language groups and thousands of clan groups. What one group
believes strongly, another will refute. Consult locally and, whenever possible, take your time.
4. Consultation is the key to success!
The reason we consult is to find an alternative that we havent thought of. Consultation is only one facet and
sometimes can be onerous and costly. However, if doing it from an educational perspective makes it worth doing, then
go for it. Consult where necessary, use advice when it is offered, and dont use material older than five years.
5. Real Aboriginal people are full-bloods, black, and speak their own language.
Wrong!! Aboriginal people are those Indigenous peoples accepted by Aboriginal groups as Aboriginal. Contemporary
Aboriginal people come in a range of colours as well have a range of understandings about their culture. The common
factors are their linkage to people and the land.
6. Only Aboriginal people can teach Aboriginal Studies.
There are certain aspects of Aboriginal Studies or Aboriginal issues that might be better handled by Aboriginal people.
However, this can be decided through the use of a local reference group. Treating Aboriginal issues across the
curriculum will diminish this necessity.
7. Aboriginal advice, counsel and involvement is free.
If you want to use Aboriginal expertise in your teaching and learning programs establish a cost centre from the start.
While people may not expect to be paid for their services some will. Dont use your Aboriginal teacher as a substitute
for local expertise.
The integration of Aboriginal culture and issues across mainstream teaching and learning in the modern classroom is the
key to fundamental progress in the reconciliation process.

Department of Education and Training, Western Australia, 2006