“Part of listening, learning and living in respectful relationships with one another involves seeking to understand Indigenous spirituality, which is fundamental to many Indigenous people’s identity and worldview.” (Australians Together) 

The Sacred Heart Primary School, Pearce community has unveiled the first stage of its Aboriginal Garden. The native learning space has been created to help students develop a greater understanding of Aboriginal spirituality and identity.

Students will use the space to participate in different forms of prayer, from traditional Aboriginal forms of meditative deep listening prayer, such as Dadirri, to modern forms of Christian Meditation.

Stage One of the design involved the creation of the garden’s spiritual element. The three totem poles at the centre of the garden represent the Aboriginal peoples’ connection to the native plants, animals and land within Ngunnawal Country. At the entrance to the garden is a large timber sign inscribed with ‘Yumalundi nin Ngoonawal dhawura’ (Welcome to Ngunnawal Country).

“The garden space is also reflective of our Catholic Faith in that the three totem poles are also symbolic of the Holy Trinity,” said Sacred Heart Religious Education Coordinator, Aaron Fox. “For our Sacred Heart community it reminds us of our school motto, ‘Nurturing Hearts, Minds and Spirits.’”

The school enlisted the help of Ngunnawal language experts from Thunderstone Aboriginal Culture Services to provide translations for the garden sign. The Wanniassa Men’s Shed donated timber and their time to create the sign. A grandparent engraved and erected the sign.

Stage Two of the project will include a garden of native plants that the local Aboriginal people used for nourishment. The design and plant selection of this phase will be integrated into a student led inquiry task to enable them to take ownership of the cultural space.

“It is the hope of the Sacred Heart community that through the use of this Aboriginal spiritual garden space, our students are provided with a genuine appreciation for how the local Ngunnawal and broader Aboriginal people are connected both spiritually and physically to the land,” Mr Fox said.