Inclusion

Aims:

  • Grow a collective vision for Wayilwan cultural heritage and language revival

  • Increase the palatability and accessibility of engaging in the decolonisation process, inclusive of the deconstruction of systemic racism and the annulling of deficit discourse in the context of contemporary Australia

  • Grow cultural capabilities/competencies for a meaningful reconciliation process   

Objectives:

  • Take affirmative action and make reasonable adjustments to ensure Aboriginal arts and culture protocols are followed  

  • Provision of safe spaces for people to embrace and engage in Wayilwan language, Wayilwan stories and the performing and creative arts

  • Provision of performing, creative and Wayilwan language pursuits which engage and inspire

  • Initiate meaningful dialogue, face to face interaction, effective communication with all members of the Aboriginal community

  • Develop strong strategic partnerships with non-Aboriginal allies, organisations and businesses

Cultural Awareness note

Deficit discourse is a narrative which reinforces power imbalances and stereotypes. The Closing the Gap campaign is an example of a government policy which is grounded in deficit discourse (Brown, 2019). The Closing the Gap campaign is founded on a non-Aboriginal world view and reinforces colonial mindsets.

Decolonisation is when we proactively identify the systems and structures in our education, academic and professional institutions which inherently continue imperial, colonial and racial oppression and then call them into question so as to be dismantled (Ghaddar & Caswell, 2019, p.74). Smith et al. (2022) explains why education systems need decolonising and how this can be done.     

 Warraan Widji Arts uses empirical evidence and systematic literature reviews to challenge epistemic practices (the creation and justification of knowledge of a particular group) which reinforce socialised beliefs which perpetuate a power imbalance and further disempower Aboriginal peoples.  

References:

Brown, P. (2019). Understanding how deficit discourses work against implementing participatory approaches in Australian Indigenous policy. The Australian Journal of Social Issues, 54(4), 401-417. Sydney: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Ghaddar. J., & Caswell. M. (2019). “To go beyond”: towards a decolonial archival praxis. Archival Science, 19, 71–85.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10502-019-09311-1

Smith, H., Le Grice, J., Fonua, S.& Mayeda, D.(2022). Coloniality, institutional racism and white fragility: A wero to higher education.The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 51(2). doi 10.55146/ajie.v51i2.34