Practical Reconciliation and Justice Spirituality Cultural Recognition and Awareness OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART COLLEGE RECONCILIATION COVENANT Established 2010 Reviewed annually by the r Ratified by Leadership Team Draft as of 9-9-2011 Page 1 of 10
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College Reconciliation Covenant est. 2010 Covenant We recognise the special place and culture of Aboriginal peoples within Australia. We acknowledge that Aboriginal peoples have been the caretakers of this Land for more than 60,000 years. We respect their spiritual connection to Mother Earth through the Dreaming. An apology begins the healing process. Apology means understanding, a willingness to enter into the suffering. It implies a commitment to do more. The late Sir Ronald Wilson, Chair of the National Inquiry into the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. We understand that general opportunity. practical measures need to address the disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal people in education, health, employment, and Reconciliation is an active pursuit it s about getting on with what s needed and what we know to get the resultss we all want, and that s a mixture of measures that target the body, the mind and the spirit. Mick Dodson, Australian of the Year, National Press Club address, 17 February 2009. True Reconciliation requires national and local solutions achieved through positive and purposeful partnerships not just for today but for tomorrow. We work for Reconciliation, in partnership with those who believe that there can be an alternative to the present order. Our School Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College recognisess that the task of reconciliation with our Aboriginal brothers and sisters is the responsibility of all Australians.For us, reconciliation means, firstly, acknowledging the great injustices which have been endured by Aboriginal Australians; secondly, to listen and then engage in dialogue with our Aboriginal brothers and sisters about the shared task of reconciliation; and thirdly, to actively promote and work towards mutual self-understanding and healing, which also involves addressing remaining issues of injustice. OLSH College recognisess that reconciliation remains an ongoing project. Our Covenant The idea for a Reconciliation Covenant was presented to the College by the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry in Melbourne. They remain involved in the continuing development of our Covenant. The Covenant has been drafted in its initial form with the assistance of the Reconciliation Covenant working group (which has now become the ).This committee consists of a representative from the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Assistant Principal-Faith and Mission, staff representatives, Senior student representative and Faith and Mission Captain. The FIRE Carrier committee is also assisted by student representatives from Years 7-10. Page 2 of 10
The Fire Carrier This is a crucial advisory group to the Assistant Principal Faith and Mission and to the school community. As initiatives promoting Reconciliation continue to be taken up, this is the source of wisdom for the journey. Page 3 of 10
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College Reconciliation Covenant est. 2010 Our targets for 2011/2012 are: Spirituality Focus Area: Learn, Teach, Share, Grow towards understanding Aboriginal Spirituality (holistic) Action Responsibility Timelinee Suggested Activities/Resources Through Prayer, gain/engage a deeper awareness of justice issues AP-Faith and Missionand the. Acknowledgement of Country to be made at all formal school gatherings: School Liturgies and prayer services, whole school assemblies, Year Level Assemblies, Professional Development Days. The message stick is to be carried in the procession of the Word during all school Masses or at times when sacred Scripture is proclaimed to the community and displayed in a position of honour on the altaror in the sacred space. 2012 Investigation by the committeein using the Turning of the Coolamon Ceremony within College liturgies. Investigation by the committee on the protocol regardingg the use of the Aboriginal Our Father in school Masses and liturgies. Investigate Aboriginal spirituality RE Head of Department, AP Learning and Teaching and Curriculum with the committee. 2011 - ongoing Undertake an audit of Aboriginal Spirituality within the RE Curriculum. Identify areas where Aboriginal Spirituality can be incorporated into the curriculum. Invite guest speakers from ACM to speak to students and staff about Aboriginal spirituality. Page 4 of 10
Investigate the connection between Aboriginal spirituality and justice issues RE Head of Department, AP Learning and Teaching and Curriculum with the committee. Incorporate a focus on Aboriginal spirituality and social justice in the RE curriculum: Year 11 Texts and Traditions 2 (Outcome 1/2: study of YortaYorta and Nhunggabarra dreaming stories; investigation of how Aboriginal spirituality is linked to land rights: Yirrkalaa petition and Barunga Statement) Identify further areas where the link between Aboriginal spirituality and Social Justice can be incorporated into the curriculum. Field Trip/ Immersion Experience AP-Faith and Mission. 2011-2012 Immersion Trip Experience to Bathurst Island and Wodeye (Port Keats) N.T. offered to students and staff. Consult with the ACM for further possible facilitation trips to local Aboriginal sites. Page 5 of 10
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College Reconciliation Covenant est. 2010 Cultural Recognition & Awareness Focus Area: Recognise Cultural Perspectives, Demonstrate Awarenesss Action Responsibility Timeline Suggested Activities / Resources Promote and celebratee the FIRE Carrier project AP-Student Wellbeing and AP- Faith and Mission. Beginningg of School Year. Annually elect a Senior student representative and one representative from every homeroom from Years 7-10. Invite ACM to perform the Fire Ceremony and Commissioning of FIRE Carrier representatives. Chairperson of the. Convene a FIRE Carrier committee which will meet at least once a term to plan and coordinate activities to promote reconciliation within the school community. Publicly display our school s respect for Aboriginal people.. Display the FIRE Trophy in the front office of the College. Display the message stick in the front office of the College. Fly the Australian flag, Aboriginal flag and Torres Strait Islander flagduring school hours. Senior FIRE carrier student representative Maintain a FIRE Carrier noticeboard which will include information about upcoming events/celebrations and feature relevant news items about reconciliation and indigenous issues. AP-Faith and Mission 2012 Propose an Aboriginal Dadirri garden (ACM approved) at the front of the College. To be considered as part of the school s Master Plan. Page 6 of 10
Cultural Recognition & Awareness Focus Area: Recognise Cultural Perspectives, Demonstrate Awarenesss Action Responsibility Timeline Suggested Activities / Resources Embrace Aboriginal stories and culture within school ceremonies Fire Carrier September Invite Elders to welcome visitors to Country to our Feast of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart liturgy Acknowledgment of Aboriginal culture within College publicity. 2012 Acknowledgement of Country on College website* Acknowledge of Country on email postscript* (The College needs styleguide to be established prior to this initiative) Acknowledge of Country in Student Planner* Outline of the responsibility of a School in Student Planner* Display Reconciliation Covenant on school website* Establish a central folder within the Faith and Mission drive containing the covenant and additional information Create an Acknowledgment of Country poster to be mounted in each homeroom. To be included in the Responsibilities of Homeroom Teachers outline Research and identify Major Justice Issues Member of the FIRE Carrier with AP-Learning and Teaching 2011-2013 Advise Curriculum to have allfaculties audit their curriculum regarding coverage of Indigenous issues. This is to be done in line with the requirements of the Australian National Curriculum regarding Indigenous perspectives. By 2013 to have Indigenous perspectives articulated in curriculum documents. Page 7 of 10
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College Reconciliation Covenant est. 2010 Cultural Recognition & Awareness Focus Area: Recognise Cultural Perspectives, Demonstrate Awarenesss Action Responsibility Timeline Suggested Activities / Resources Seek advice from ACM on cultural wisdom and seek knowledge of the local Aboriginal community. Students and/ or staff attend Cultural Protocols workshop run by ACM Engage with local Aboriginal groups Learn and use some words from the language of the local Aboriginal community Celebrate important days and weeks in the reconciliation calendar 13 February 26 May - 3 June Celebrate National Apology Day Celebrate National Reconciliationn Week First Sunday in July Celebrate NAIDOC Week 4 August Celebrate National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day and Opening the Door Foundation s Birthday Page 8 of 10
Practical Reconciliation & Justice Focus Area: Walk the Journey together, Put Learning into Practice Action Responsibility Timelinee Suggested Measureable Target Take Practical Measures toward Reconciliation and Justice August Representation at Opening the Door Foundation birthday celebration in the Melbourne arch-diocese. Disseminate promotional material in the College for the Opening the Doors Foundationn Fire Carrier andstudent FIRE Carriers 27 May 3 June Undertake fundraising for the Opening the Doors Foundation, particularly during Reconciliation Week Explore options for Exhibit travelling art exhibitions: Dreaming in the City and A River Dreaming during Reconciliation Week Invite a local Elder to speak to the College about ongoing social justice issues for Indigenous people during Reconciliation Week Have a strong school presence in Indigenous community events e.g. The Long Walk; NAIDOC March Explore, where possible, scholarship options for Indigenous students at OLSH* Investigate possible links with other OLSH Collegesthroughout Australia: This could include teacher and students week exchanges. Page 9 of 10
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College Reconciliation Covenant est. 2010 Faith and Mission Captain Ensure that the Faith and Mission Captain liaises with the Student Leadership Team about practical ideas regarding ongoing reconciliation efforts within the College community The Project is an initiative of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry and the Opening the Doors Foundation with the Sandhurst CEO to promote and assist Reconciliation through Education in Victorian Schools. Our Lady of the Sacred HeartCollege commits to completing or putting steps in place to complete all Actions through Measureable Targets outlined above by the dates set out in the timeline above. A review at the end of school year will be conducted and the plan will be updated and passed to the following year's at the inaugural School assembly. *Pending approval from leadership Team Page 10 of 10