Meeting Uncle Chris

Yesterday, I took my Year 6 class on an excursion to Lake Parramatta to meet with local indigenous people and gain an understanding of their worldview.

Uncle Chris Tobin

We met Darug man, Uncle Chris Tobin who captivated my kids with his indigenous perspectives on how to live sustainably on the land. We talked about Welcome to Country ceremonies vs Acknowledgement of Country statements, about how the terms 'Uncle' and 'Aunty' are terms of respect in his culture, and about what it was like to a proud Aboriginal man in this day and age.

After Uncle Chris painted my face

Uncle Chris changed my mind about Acknowledgement of Country statements, which I've always felt were a bit tokenistic. He made me see that just acknowledging that Australia is Aboriginal land is a big step and that it is appreciated by many indigenous people.

He was incredibly open and gracious, and made a big impression on both my class and me. Thank you, Uncle Chris.