Aboriginal Language and Spirituality Within the Context of Riddim and Poetry: A Creative School Program

Abstract

This chapter presents the ways in which Aboriginal spirituality is observed in the design and implementation of a school program, Riddim and Poetry. The program aims to unleash Indigenous students' creativity through drumming, poem writing and Indigenous language workshops, helping them create songs. The chapter firstly focuses on how the Aboriginal protocol was followed in terms of relationship building, conceptualisation and development of the program, as well as the implementation of drumming and poem writing workshops. The chapter then shifts its gaze to the Gumbaynggirr language lessons, which were designed and delivered by Uncle Michael Jarrett (Gawa Micklo), who sees language as a path to spiritual understandings and experiences. In this section, Gawa Micklo talks about Aboriginal spirituality, identifies the elements of Aboriginal spirituality in the design and delivery of his language lessons, and discusses the need to spread Aboriginal language teaching into the social fabric of the community.