In this episode, AAFIE's Dale Murray is joined by Dr John Davis, proud Murri Ambae man. JD is a Traditional Owner of the western sides of Bunya Bunya Mountains, Country his mob call Boobagarrn Ngumminge. JD is also the CEO of The Stronger Smarter Institute.
The ‘Strong and Smart’ approach, developed by Dr Chris Sarra at Cherbourg State School, is now used in schools across the country to embrace a strong and positive sense of what it means to be Aboriginal in contemporary Australian society. The Stronger Smarter Institute has a vision for Stronger Smarter communities across Australia, where all people are strong in culture, strong in identity and enjoy prosperous, safe and healthy lives.
JD's core work roles over the past decade have focused on educational excellence, woven within a team environment.
“Wherever I weave, I lay a footprint based on sustaining excellence – a core feature of my work outcomes – growing leadership density and developing cultures of excellence and aspirations”.
In this episode Dale and JD, yarn about Language and it's connection to Culture, Identity and Country and the significance of language to contemporary Australia and the path to healing. This yarn acknowledges the true testament that language and culture has held on this land, in it's people, through its dance, art and songlines for over 60,000 years.
JD yarns about education, and how the acknowledgement of 60,000 years of knowledge, tradition and connection to Country can not be disregarded in our classrooms for all students, but particularly for First Nations kids. JD tells of his mob, their connection to language and three ways of speaking through the artifacts of his mob - clapstick from Elders, Clapstick for the next generation and firestick that is part of their songline, that place of Boobagarrn Ngumminge - beautiful fire country.
Dale describes JD "as a man with a big fire in his heart, that burns coolly across our Country".
