Womin djeka Balnarring Ngargee Vision Statement
Womin Djeka Balnarring Ngargee (festival)
For the Womindjeka Balnarring Ngargee (Festival), to be an event where the community can gather to share, begin conversations and walk with First Peoples.
The festival will:
- Honour and celebrate First Peoples cultures. Celebrating where First Nations Peoples have come from and all they have achieved and continue to achieve.
- Support First Nations Peoples to be a part of the practice in learning, education, and teaching children
- Connect all members of the community by strengthening relationships
- Demonstrate a commitment to reconciliation
- Strengthen the learning that Balnarring kindergarten represents for all members of the community
- Give a sense of purpose for what Balnarring Kindergarten represents for all members of the community
- Involve the whole community caring for and learning with Country
- Lead and expand education networks to engage with First Peoples teachings.
Goals
- To create an opportunity to take the time to breathe, to connect and be present.
- To cultivate a culturally safe space for all members of the community
- To offer opportunities for First Nations Peoples to share their cultures and celebrate their talents and knowledge.
- To invite the community to learn with First Nations Peoples and be guided by them when creating the festival.
- To encourage learning about caring for: the land, waterways, plants, animals.
- To help the community to understand their role in keeping Country safe as that keeps them safe.
- To foster a welcoming and supportive place where people from diverse backgrounds can meet
- To ensure inclusion of all people including those with disability, children with developmental delay and their families and carers
- To ensure the inclusion of people who identify as gender diverse
- To establish, build and strengthen partnerships with community groups and organisations that align with the festival’s vision and goals.
- To demonstrate our responsibility of caring for the children growing up as the future generations that will be holding stewardship – environmental warriors.
Objectives
- For First Nations Peoples to be hired in all aspects of the festival including entertainment, cultural workshops and craft stalls.
- Provide authentic experiences that build on changing the narrative about First Nations Peoples from negative to positive
- For local community groups which promote caring for Country to be invited to participate
- For experiences to be developed which will cater for a diverse range of ages, abilities and interests.
- For children and families to be at the forefront of all decision making.
- To prioritise sustainable practices including reducing waste and maximising re-use strategies across the whole festival.
