Kamay Botany Bay Environmental Education Centre

We acknowledge and are grateful to work, learn and educate on Dharawal land.

Telephone02 9668 9889 / 0477 742 284

Emailkamaybotany-e.school@det.nsw.edu.au

S1-3 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultural day

 

Location:

Kamay Botany Bay EEC, Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Kurnell

Special note

Program Cost:

  • $30 per student – This cost applies when the program includes an Aboriginal knowledge holder for the full day. This allows students to engage in authentic cultural experiences such as weaving and yarning, and supports respectful and meaningful learning guided by an Aboriginal perspective.

  • $16 per student – This option is available without an Aboriginal knowledge holder. In place of weaving, students will participate in a mandala nature art activity using natural materials.

We are committed to delivering culturally respectful programs. If your school is seeking to have Aboriginal perspectives authentically embedded through the guidance of a knowledge holder, please note that this requires dedicated funding to appropriately support and acknowledge their role in the program.

Overview:

Kamay Botany Bay National Park in Kurnell is a place of deep cultural significance for the Gweagal clan of the Dharawal Nation. During a guided bushwalk with an Aboriginal knowledge holder, students will engage in rich, place-based learning about Gweagal culture and ways of knowing. They will explore Aboriginal artefacts, learn about seasonal calendars, and gain insight into traditional weaving practices. As they move across the rock platform, students will discover local food sources traditionally gathered from this coastal environment. This immersive experience fosters a deeper respect for Aboriginal perspectives and highlights the enduring connection between the Gweagal clan and Country.

Outcomes

  •  HT1-2 Identifies and describes significant people, events, places and sites in the local community over time
  • HT2-2 Describes and explains how significant individuals, groups and events contributed to changes in the local community overtime
  • HT3-5 Applies a variety of skills of historical inquiry and communication

Key Inquiry questions

  • Who lived here first and how do we know?
  • What was life like for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples ?

Student will

  • Take a guided bushwalk along the Muru-Yena Track to gain a deeper understanding of the significant plant resources traditionally used by the local Gweagal clan
  • Explore Gweagal cultural artefacts and view local bird and animal specimens, learning about their traditional uses and meanings
  • Participate in a traditional weaving activity with an Aboriginal knowledge holder, reflecting on the significance of cultural practices passed down through generations
  • View and reflect on the coastal sculptures, including the Whale (Burriburi) Dreaming story, which highlights the deep spiritual connection between people, animals, and Country
  • Investigate traditional coastal food sources by exploring the rock platform and understanding sustainable harvesting practices

 

Learning across the curriculum content

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
  •  Sustainability
  • Critical and creative thinking
  •  Ethical understanding
  • Difference and diversity 

 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures excursion outline