Making Children Strong: INDIGENOUS CULTURAL BELIEFS, VALUES AND CULTURAL PRACTICE.

In this article, the author Lousie Amways (2007) explores the cultural beliefs, values and practices of indigenous people. She discusses how these systems have contributed to the sustainability of the culture and to their lives in general. Focusing on the needs of the children, she addresses the important role of the school in maintaining cultural values and practices. She further points out the need for support and respect for the people and a safe place in which to continue their cultural practices in a traditional society.  The article outlines the destructive influence of interaction with traditional society and advocates for the strengthening of culture. Her presentation on suggested strategies for the classroom in helping to build strong identity in the children as well as reinforcement activities to strengthen the culture gives insight into the existing challenges of the education system to meet the needs of different learning communities, especially the indigenous people.

http://www.louisesamways.com.au/pdf/CulturalValuesVsPractice.pdf