Custodians of Country (previously Sharing Stories)

Journey to the Nyitting -the Cold Time and the Creation of Everything

Take a step back to the ‘cold time’, the Nyitting, and explore a powerful beginning when everything was created. Through the deep knowledge of Nyoongar Boodja (Country), passed down through generations via oral histories, students will explore how the land, people, animals, and sky were formed, and how Country continues to be cared for.  

This immersive experience connects students with Nyoongar culture through storytelling, language, movement, and hands-on engagement with real artefacts. The program fosters respect for Aboriginal perspectives and highlights the ongoing responsibility of caring for Country.

Student experience

Students will:

• Experience a Nyoongar Dreaming story in an engaging and interactive format.
• Learn and use Nyoongar words for local animals, understanding that Nyoongar people named the animals, plants, and natural phenomena of their Country long before colonisation.
• Identify and appreciate the unique environment of Whadjuk Country and the cultural importance of caring for Country as an act of respect, connection, and sustainability.
• Handle traditional artefacts and understand their significance in revealing the ingenuity and continuity of ancient cultures.

Program feedback

Lots of interaction with the children which was great. Also the sensory breaks were great. Activities were age appropriate. Highlights-artefacts shown, learning Aboriginal words was great.

Excellent.The museum staff offered a really interesting program and the children enjoyed the hands on experience. Listening the story told by the indigenous elder was ahighlight.

Great curriculum links, knowledgeable staff, interactive and very enjoyable for students. (Year 1/2 teacher) 

Great for students to be exposed in greater detail to traditional stories and being able to learn new words.

Skills development

This program links to the following strands of the Western Australian Curriculum:

Pre-Primary

Science

• Earth and space sciences: Daily and seasonal changes in our environment affect everyday life (ACSSU004).

Humanities and Social Sciences

• Geography: The reasons some places are special to people and how they can be looked after, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' places of significance (ACHASSK017) (ACHASSK016).

Year 1

Science

• Earth and space sciences: Observable changes occur in the sky and landscape (ACSSU019)
• Use and influence of science: People use science in their daily lives, including when caring for their environment and living things (ACSHE022)

Year 2

Science

• Earth and space sciences: Earth’s resources are used in a variety of ways (ACSSU032)
• Use and influence of science: People use science in their daily lives, including when caring for their environment and living things (ACSHE035)\

Humanities and Social Sciences

• Geography: The ways in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples maintain connections to their Country/Place (ACHASSK049).

Year 3

Humanities and Social Sciences

• Geography: Language groups of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples divides their Country/Place and differs from the surveyed boundaries of Australian states and territories (ACHASSK066)

Facilitated Workshops

Our highly regarded facilitated workshops continue to set the mark by being well researched, engaging and highly inclusive. They are the best way to experience the Museum with your class, no matter what year level you teach.

All facilitated workshops are led by the Museum’s experienced Learning and Engagement team and have been curated using the Museum’s unique resources to provide a deeper learning experience in our specialist subject areas.

Your booking for a facilitated workshop will include all materials and activities for the duration of the program with no prior preparation required.

As part of all facilitated workshop bookings, you are welcome to explore the rest of the Museum free of charge pre or post workshop and do not need to make any additional bookings to do so.  WA Museum Boola Bardip is open daily from 9.30am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm.