Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T12:58:02.920Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Renewing the Yolŋu ‘Bothways’ philosophy: Warramiri transculturation education at Gäwa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2019

Ben van Gelderen  and
Kathy Guthadjaka
Ben van Gelderen*
Affiliation:
College of Education, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina Campus, Ellengowan Drive, Darwin, Northern Territory 0811, Australia
Kathy Guthadjaka
Affiliation:
Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina Campus, Ellengowan Drive, Darwin, Northern Territory 0811, Australia
*
Author for correspondence: Ben van Gelderen, E-mail: ben.vangelderen@cdu.edu.au
Get access

Abstract

‘Bothways’ was an expression first utilised by Yolŋu educators in the late 1980s to convey the profound intercultural epistemological foundations of Yolŋu society that should also apply to modern Balanda (white) schooling systems. Despite the pressures from national, standardised curriculum and assessment regimes, ‘Bothways’ has not been abandoned by remote Yolŋu communities in the 21st century. In this paper we briefly revisit the first iterations of the ‘Bothways’ philosophy to demonstrate its symmetry with the Yolŋu transculturation heritage (of the Warramiri in particular), developed through many centuries of contact with sea-faring visitors. Lastly, we present data from community research at Gäwa, a Warramiri homeland on Elcho Island, which demonstrates that through a series of ‘multiple balances’, negotiation around issues of bilingual pedagogy, cultural knowledge transmission, parental engagement and student–teacher dynamic continues to renew the ‘Bothways’ approach.

Keywords

Bothways philosophyGäwaIndigenous transculturationWarramiri historyYolŋu education
Type
Research Article
Information
The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education , Volume 50 , Issue 1 , August 2021 , pp. 147 - 157
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2019

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

ARDS (Aboriginal Resource and Development Services) (2015) Djaŋu Dictionary and Word List. Available at https://ards.com.au/resources/downloadable/dja%C5%8Bu-dictionary-and-word-list/.Google Scholar
Baker, G, Gargulkpuy, J and Guthadjaka, K (2014) Author 2 and Gargulkpuy: Indigenous women leaders in Yolngu, Australia-wide and international contexts. In Damousi, J, Rubenstein, K and Tomsic, M (eds.), Diversity in Leadership: Australian Women, Past and Present. Canberra, Australia: Australian National University Press, pp. 39–52.Google Scholar
Barnier, C (ed.) (1978) Notable Australians: The Pictorial Who's Who. Sydney: Prestige Publishing.Google Scholar
Berndt, R (1962) An Adjustment Movement in Arnhem Land. Mouton, Paris and The Hague: Cahiers de L'Homme.Google Scholar
Berndt, R and Berndt, C (1954) Arnhem Land: Its History and its People. Melbourne: Hawthorn Press.Google Scholar
Bepuka, D, Dhurrkay, G, Gaykamangu, N, Gondarra, G, Marawili, M, Marrayurra, V, Mitjarrandi, E, Nungalurr, H, Nguluwidi, J, Rrambinba, B and Rrumaliny, N (1993) Literacy and changes- both ways education. Ngoonjook: A Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues 9, 67–69.Google Scholar
Bos, R (1988) Jesus and the Dreaming: Religion and Social Change in Arnhem Land (Doctoral dissertation). University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia.Google Scholar
Bruce, L and Huddleston, M (2006) Life in Indigenous Australian Communities: Gawa, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. South Yarra: Macmillan Education.Google Scholar
Burrumarra, D (1977) Oceanal man: an aboriginal view of himself. Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal 1, 52–54.Google Scholar
Cawte, J (1993) The Universe of the Warramiri: Art, Medicine and Religion in Arnhem Land. Sydney: New South Wales University Press.Google Scholar
Christie, M (1994) Grounded and Ex-centric knowledges: Exploring aboriginal alternatives to western thinking. In Edwards, J (ed.), Thinking: International Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Victoria: Hawker Brownlow Education, pp. 23–34.Google Scholar
Christie, M (2006) Transdisciplinary research and aboriginal knowledge. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education 35, 78–89.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Christie, M (2007) Yolngu language habitat: Ecology, identity and law in an aboriginal society. In Leitner, G and Malcolm, I (eds), Australia's Aboriginal Languages Habitat. Berlin, New York: Mouton De Gruyter, pp. 57–78.Google Scholar
Christie, M (2009) Engaging with Australian indigenous knowledge systems: Charles Darwin University and the Yolngu of Northeast Arnhemland. Learning Communities: International Journal of Learning in Social Contexts 7, 23–35.Google Scholar
Christie, M (2010) The task of the translator. Learning Communities: International Journal of Learning in Social Contexts 2, 67–74.Google Scholar
Christie, M (2011) Some aboriginal perspectives on gifted and talented children and their schooling. In Vialle, W (ed.), Giftedness From an Indigenous Perspective. Wollongong, NSW: Australian Association for the Gifted and Talented, pp. 36–42.Google Scholar
Christie, M (2013a) Generative and ‘ground-up’ research in aboriginal Australia. Learning Communities: International Journal of Learning in Social Contexts 13, 3–13.Google Scholar
Christie, M (2013b) The box of vegies: Method and metaphysics in Yolŋu research. In Vicars, M, McKenna, T and White, J (eds), Discourse, Power, Resistance—Down Under, vol. 2. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers, pp. 45–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Christie, M (2014) Decolonising methodology in an Arnhem land garden. In Neumeier, B and Schaffer, K (eds), Decolonizing the Landscape: Indigenous Cultures in Australia. Amsterdam: Rodopi, pp. 57–70.Google Scholar
Clarke, B (2010) Ḻarrpan ga Buḏuyurr: The Spear and the Cloud. Tranmere, South Australia: BA Clarke.Google Scholar
Denzin, N, Lincoln, Y and Tuhiwai Smith, L (2008) Handbook of Critical and Indigenous Methodologies. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Disbray, S (2016) Policy and practice now. In Devlin, B, Disbray, S and Devlin, N (eds), History of Bilingual Education in the Northern Territory. Singapore: Springer, pp. 237–246.Google Scholar
Freire, P (1970) Pedagogy of the Oppressed. London: Penguin Books.Google Scholar
Gäwa Christian School (2013) Our Story. Available at http://www.gcs.nt.edu.au/index.php/our-story/.Google Scholar
Greatorex, J (2016) Reflections on my years at Elcho and Mäpuru (1978–2015). In Devlin, B, Disbray, S and Devlin, N (eds), History of Bilingual Education in the Northern Territory. Singapore: Springer, pp. 331–345.Google Scholar
Guthadjaka, K (2010) Literate Australia: Health & Wellbeing Visions—Two Way Learning. Paper presented at the Building Literate Nations Inaugural National Forum, Sydney.Google Scholar
Guthadjaka, K (2012). Bilingual Education: Bothways Learning: a practical approach. Paper presented at Department of Education Bilingual Workshop, Galiwin'ku.Google Scholar
Guthadjaka, K (2014) Elder on Country. Darwin: Speech presented at Northern Institute, Charles Darwin UniversityGoogle Scholar
Hall, N (2016) Forty years on: Seeking a way for the future. Dhawal'yurr yuwalkku dhukarr. Reflections on bilingual education at Shepherdson College, Galiwin'ku. In Devlin, B, Disbray, S and Devlin, N (eds), History of Bilingual Education in the Northern Territory. Singapore: Springer, pp. 307–324.Google Scholar
Harris, M and Gartland, G (2011) Children of the Intervention: Aboriginal Children living in the Northern Territory of Australia. A submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Available at http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/media/Children-of-the-Intervention-June-2011-r2.pdf.Google Scholar
Huffman, T (2010) Theoretical Perspectives on American Indian Education: Taking a New look at Academic Success and the Achievement gap. Plymouth, UK: AltaMira Press.Google Scholar
Keen, I (1994) Knowledge and Secrecy in an Aboriginal Religion. Oxford: Clarendon Press.Google Scholar
Keen, I (1995) Metaphor and the metalanguage: ‘groups’ in Northeast Arnhem Land. American Ethnologist 22, 502–527.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keen, I (2000) A bundle of sticks: the debate over Yolngu clans. The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 6, 419–436.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lanhupuy, W (1988) Address to the D-Bate Graduation 1987. Ngoonjook: A Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues 1, 1–4.Google Scholar
Macknight, C (1976) The Voyage to Marenge. Carlton, Victoria: Melbourne University Press.Google Scholar
Macknight, C (2008) Harvesting the memory: Open beaches in Makassar and Arnhem Land. In Veth, P, Sutton, P and Neale, M (eds), Strangers on the Shore: Early Coastal Contacts in Australia. Canberra: National Museum of Australia, pp. 114–126.Google Scholar
Marika, R (1999) Milthun Latju Wäŋa Romgu Yolŋu: valuing Yolŋu knowledge in the education system. Ngoonjook: A Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues 16, 107–120.Google Scholar
Marika, R, Ŋurruwutthun, D and White, L (1989) Always Together, Yaka Gäna: Participatory Research at Yirrkala as Part of the Development of a Yolŋu Education. Presentation, University of Calgary, Canada. Yirrkala, NT: Yirrkala Literature Production Centre.Google Scholar
Marika-Munuŋgiritj, R (1990) Workshops as teaching learning environments. Ngoonjook: A Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues 4, 43–55.Google Scholar
Marika-Munuŋgiritj, R (1991a) How can Balanda (white Australians) learn about the aboriginal world? Ngoonjook: A Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues 5, 17–25.Google Scholar
Marika-Munuŋgiritj, R (1991b) Some notes on principles for aboriginal pedagogy. Ngoonjook: A Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues 6, 33–34.Google Scholar
Marika-Munuŋgiritj, R, Maymuru, B, Munuŋgurr, M, Multharra, M, Ŋurruwutthun, G and Yunupiŋu, Y (1990) The history of the Yirrkala community school: Yolŋu thinking about education in the Laynha and Yirrkala area. Ngoonjook: A Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues 3, 32–52.Google Scholar
McConvell, P (1981) Supporting the two-way school. In Bell, J (ed.), Language Planning for Australian Aboriginal Languages. Alice Springs: Institute for Aboriginal Development, pp. 60–76.Google Scholar
McIntosh, I (1994) The Whale and the Cross: Conversations with David Burrumarra. Darwin: Historical Society of Northern Territory.Google Scholar
McIntosh, I (1995) Who are the Bayini? Beagle: Records of the Museums and art Galleries of the Northern Territory 12, 193–208.Google Scholar
McIntosh, I (1997) Can we be Equal in Your Eyes? a Perspective on Reconciliation from North-East Arnhem Land (Doctoral dissertation). Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia.Google Scholar
McIntosh, I (1999) Aboriginal Reconciliation and the Dreaming: Warramiri Yolngu and the Quest for Equality. London: Allyn and Bacon.Google Scholar
McIntosh, I (2004) Personal names and the negotiation of change: reconsidering Arnhem Land's adjustment movement. Anthropological Forum 14, 141–162.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McIntosh, I (2015) Between Two Worlds: Essays in Honour of the Visionary Aboriginal Elder, David Burrumarra. USA: Dog Ear Publishing.Google Scholar
McMahon, C (2004) Reclaiming ‘roots’ for Cape Verde: Representation of Tabanka festivals as sites of cultural contestation. Paper presented at African Studies Association (ASA) Conference.Google Scholar
Millington, M (2005) Transculturation: Taking stock. In Hernández, F, Millington, M and Borden, I (eds), Transculturation: Cities, Spaces and Architectures in Latin America. Amsterdam and New York: Rodopi, pp. 204–223.Google Scholar
Moreiras, A (2001) The Exhaustion of Difference: The Politics of Latin American Cultural Studies. Durham and London: Duke University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morphy, H (2005) Mutual conversion? The Methodist Church and the Yolngu, with particular reference to Yirrkala. Humanities Research, 12, 41–54.Google Scholar
Nungalinya (2017) Nungalinya College 2015 Media Studies classes. Gotha's story-My story and life at Gäwa. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsxd0idIATU.Google Scholar
Ober, R and Bat, M (2007) Paper 2: both-ways: philosophy to practice. Ngoonjook: A Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues 32, 56–79.Google Scholar
Ortiz, F (1940) Cuban Counterpoint: Tobacco and Sugar. Caracas: Biblioteca Ayacucho.Google Scholar
Rogers, R (2006) From cultural exchange to transculturation: a review and reconceptualization of cultural appropriation. Communication Theory 16, 474–503.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rudder, J (1993) Yolŋu Cosmology: an Unchanging Cosmos Incorporating a Rapidly Changing World? (Doctoral dissertation). Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.Google Scholar
Stockley, T, Ganambarr, B, Munuŋgurr, D, Munuŋgurr, M, Wearne, G, Wunuŋmurra, W, White, L and Yunupiŋu, Y (2016) The quest for community control at Yirrkala school. In Devlin, B, Disbray, S, and Devlin, N (eds), History of Bilingual Education in the Northern Territory. Singapore: Springer, pp. 141–148.Google Scholar
Vander-Wal, J (1999) Hand in Hand: Arnhemland Stories. Darwin: Northern Territory: Stem Publications.Google Scholar
van Gelderen, B and Guthadjaka, K (2017) The Warramiri website: applying an alternative Yolŋu epistemology to digital development. Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning 12(14), doi.org/10.1186/s41039-017-0052-x.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
van Gelderen, B and Guthadjaka, K (post-print). A Yolŋu ‘Bothways’ approach to English and Warramiri literacy at Gäwa. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics 41(3), 252–279.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wearing, B (2007) Beulah Lowe and the Yolngu People. NSW, Australia: Betsy Wearing.Google Scholar
Wearne, G (1986) Towards ‘Bothways’ Schooling: an Exploration of the Role of Non Aboriginal Educators in the Context of Self Determination and Management (Unpublished master's thesis). Deakin University, Victoria, Australia.Google Scholar
White, L (2015) Finding the common ground with indigenous and western knowledge systems and seeking the common good for all present and future Australians—where is the common ground if we are going to find it? In Huijser, H, Ober, R, O'Sullivan, S, McRae-Williams, E and Elvin, R (eds), Finding Common Ground: Narratives, Provocations and Reflections From the 40 Year Celebration of Batchelor Institute. Batchelor, Northern Territory: Batchelor Press, pp. 8–20.Google Scholar
Williams, D (1994) David Burrumarra, MBE. Australian Aboriginal Studies 2, 121–122.Google Scholar
Wilson, B (2014) A Share in the Future: Review of Indigenous Education in the Northern Territory. Darwin: The Education Business.Google Scholar
Wunuŋmurra, W (1989) Dhawurrpunaramirri: finding the common ground for a new aboriginal curriculum. Ngoonjook: A Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues 2, 12–16.Google Scholar
Yolŋu Aboriginal Consultants Initiative (2008) Gifted and Talented Children. Available at http://www.cdu.edu.au/centres/yaci/projects_gifted_talented.html.Google Scholar
Yule, IR (ed.) (1980) My Mother the Land. Elcho Island: Uniting Church of Australia.Google Scholar
Yunupiŋu, M (1994) Yothu yindi-finding balance. In Voices From the Land (Boyer Lectures). Sydney: ABC Books 1–11.Google Scholar
Yunupiŋu, M (1989) Language and power: the Yolŋu rise to power at Yirrkala School. Ngoonjook: A Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues 2, 1–6.Google Scholar