Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gxg78 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-29T05:18:19.915Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Tiwi Culture Must Be at the Centre: An Analysis and Synthesis of Tiwi Views on Education

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2015

Jack Frawley
Jack Frawley*
Affiliation:
Batchelor College
Get access

Extract

Tiwi educators (Tungatalum, 1991; Pilakui, 1991; Tipiloura, 1992; Tiparui, 1992; Munkara, 1992; Orsto, 1993) have raised issues of concern regarding educational operations, curriculum design and the educational structure of community education. These educators are writing in a context vastly different to their grandparents and parents, where a number of critical events have influenced, and are still influencing the social, political, spiritual and economical lives of Tiwi community members. Through their analysis of the current educational system they have isolated a number of issues and have suggested alternatives to the current structure. Language and culture appear as the greatest concern to these educators and the maintenance of both emerge as a priority. They also state that community education programs do not adequately address the importance of Tiwi culture as the foundation of education, and the powerful role that community members and Tiwi teachers should play in determining the direction of education. From Tiwi educators' collective concerns, an alternative model has been constructed and salient issues are discussed. The model is certainly not seen as an answer to Tiwi educators' collective concerns, but it presents an alternative to the current Muruntawi dominated system.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education , Volume 23 , Issue 4 , December 1995 , pp. 8 - 21
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

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

Frawley, J. (1992) ‘What should schools do about Aboriginal language maintenance?’ The Aboriginal Child At School: A National Journal For Teachers of Aboriginals 20(1): 3–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gardiner, A. (1993) ‘Melding of two spirits: from the Yiminga of the Tiwi to the Yiminga of Christianity’. Occasional Paper No. 35. Darwin: State Library of the Northern Territory.Google Scholar
Jimbidie, I. (1993) ‘We still carry on: an interview with Emmie Tipiloura.’ Kularlaga: A Journal of Aboriginal Adult Education 5. Batchelor College: Educational Media Unit.Google Scholar
Lee, J. (1987) Tiwi Today: A Study of Language Change in a Contact Situation. Unpublished PhD, Australian National University.Google Scholar
Munkara, M. (1992) Community Research Report. Batchelor College. Unpublished paper.Google Scholar
Orsto, C. (1993) ‘The use of mixed languages at Nguiu’. In Purdon, A. (Ed.), Community Research Reports: Languages Issues, Volume 1. Batchelor College: Educational Media Unit.Google Scholar
Osborne, CR. (1974) The Tiwi Language. Canberra: Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies.Google Scholar
Pilakui, M. (1991) ‘Aboriginal pedagogy: the Maminikuwi Miynatawunga Project’, in Aboriginal Pedagogy: Aboriginal Teachers Speak Out. Geelong: Deakin University Press.Google Scholar
Pye, J.(1977) The Tiwils lands. Darwin:Coleman Printers.Google Scholar
SBS (1989) Australian Mosaic: Teach Tiwi Proper Way.Google Scholar
Stanley, O. (1983) Nguiu: An Aboriginal Economy. Darwin: NARU.Google Scholar
Tiparui, J. (1993) ‘It is important to save this languagebecauseitis our culture’. Kularlaga: A Journal of Aboriginal Adult Education 5. Batchelor College: Educational Media Unit.Google Scholar
Tipiloura, E. (1991) ‘Active and pro-active learning, and self-empowerment’. Kurlarlaga: A Journal of Aboriginal Adult Education, Vol. 2, No. 1. Batchelor College: Educational Media Unit.Google Scholar
Tipiloura, E. (1992) ‘Two ways education at Nguiu’. Kularlaga: A Journal of Aboriginal Adult Education 3(1). Batchelor College: Educational Media Unit.Google Scholar
Tipiloura, E. and Jimbidie, I. (1993) ‘Aboriginal studies and community education’. Kularlaga: A Journal of Aboriginal Adult Education 5. Batchelor College: Educational Media Unit.Google Scholar
Tungatalum, F. (1991) ‘Tiwi pedagogy: Ngini Nginingawula Ngawurranungurumagi’. Aboriginal Pedagogy: Aboriginal Teachers Speak Out. Geelong: Deakin University Press.Google Scholar