This paper is concerned with the notion of negotiating curriculum with an infants class in the environmental studies area. It explains the process the children went through and then discusses child and teacher roles within the program, evaluation of the program and the assumptions underlying the concept of negotiation and collaboration.

The intention of this paper is to briefly explain the development of Bilingual programs in Australia, their application to the Aurukun situation, the problems encountered at Aurukun, and directions for 1988 and beyond.

The Aboriginal/Islander population of Queensland was calculated by the 1981 census to be greater than 44,000 (Department of Aboriginal Affairs, 1984, p.11). However, for a slightly later estimate, the Annual Report of the Queensland Department of Aboriginal and Islander Advancement records a figure of 60,000 (Department of Aboriginal and Islander Advancement, 1984, p.l). Both of these figures could be substantially correct given a possibility that some Aboriginal people may not identify themselves as such on census returns. Whatever the reason for the difference in the figures, a total of some 50,000 is most likely conservative for the present time. This figure converts to a percentage of slightly over 2% of the Queensland population being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Of the 50,000 Aboriginal/Islander population some 24% are Torres Strait Islanders (Department of Aboriginal Affairs, 1984, p.11).