Kay Boulden gave the Assembly a comprehensive presentation titled 'Montessori Working in Remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Communities'. The Aboriginal Lands Map at Settlement showed homelands for over 250 languages. Kay spoke of the concept of land and ancestors as circular and how the connection to land affects spiritual and physical well-being. Kay took us through the very different histories of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people. The Assembly members gained an insight into the story of dispossession of Aboriginal people by the dominant white culture and how that terrible history affects all Aboriginal people today. The Torres Strait Island (TSI) history is different and although first contact was not as vicious, it has impacted on health and education outcomes and welfare dependency for TSI people.
Kay explained why it was necessary for teachers going to communities to be well prepared and supported.
She then went on to talk about the work of MCF at Kiwirrikurra, Lockhart River and the Torres Strait Islands. The MCF/TSI partnership is a story to celebrate. The EsF Assembly was heartened by the 2012 AEDI statistics showing great improvement.
Participants worked in groups for the afternoon to flesh out ideas, criteria and values for EsF and the website.
