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BREWARRINA'S ABORIGINAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM
Year: 1998
Classification: Exempt - Ronin Recommends: G
Runtime: 20 min
Produced In: Australia
Directed By: Bernadette Crawford
Produced By: Bernadette Crawford
Language: English
Made by students and staff at Brewarrina Central School in the north-west of New South Wales, this video documents an innovative Aboriginal language program for students in the first two years of high school (Years 7 and 8).
The language program was developed by teachers at Brewarrina, and is designed to appeal strongly to the imaginations of their students. The students are encouraged to work in groups and individually to unearth their local history and cultural backgrounds, by studying family trees and gathering oral histories, by making excursions to significant sites, and by re-discovering Aboriginal language and cultural practices.
The enthusiasm of the children is evident throughout the video. Because Aboriginal language and cultural courses are relatively new and are still developing in many institutions across Australia, this survey of the Brewarrina experience is valuable for educationalists and students alike.