DIGS- Dedicated Indigenous Garden and Sculpture

 

Ngatanwarr.

The DIGS team acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live, work, learn and play, the Gundtijmara people.

We honour, value and respect their connections to land, sea and community.

We acknowledge and are grateful to the Traditional Owners, Elders and Knowledge Holders of all Indigenous nations and clans who have been instrumental in our reconciliation journey.

We recognise the unique place held by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the original owners and custodians of the lands and waterways across the Australian continent, with histories of continuous connection dating back more than 60,000 years. 

We also acknowledge their enduring cultural practices of caring for Country.

We pay respect to Elders past, present and future, and acknowledge the importance of Indigenous knowledge in our school. 

As a community of students, staff, artists, ecologists, and parents, we are privileged to work and learn every day with Indigenous colleagues, Community and partners.

DIGS Overview

The Narrawong Dedicated Indigenous Garden and Sculpture is a project developed in 2017 by two school parents, who brought together their professional knowledge of the arts, and ecology respectively, to support the school to create an interactive outdoor learning space focusing on local biodiversity.

The aim of the project is to provide learning opportunities for the NDPS students and community in local connections between the Natural Environment, Culture and People, and express this learning through an artistic medium. DIGS supports the idea that anyone can create ecological abundance, environmental connection and care in a playful, sustainable and creative way, in their own garden. (Specifically local Gunditjmara culture)

The DIGS project (Dedicated Indigenous Garden and Sculpture) is an innovative learning space and cultural resource. Themes of sustainability, stewardship of the land, creativity, cultural knowledge and scientific discovery are explored through engagement with nature in an outside learning space. Indigenous history, art and cultural workshops have been held with local Gunditjmara Elders (And Gunditjmara consultants), artists, biologists and ecologists.

With the support and involvement of students, parents, staff and local community  we co-created wonder and excitement about the relationships between local indigenous plants, insects, birds and animal species. An indigenous garden, accompanied by a green curriculum, innovative interpretative signage create a successful, engaging space.

Fortunately, over the years since 2017 we've had major partners helping with financial assistance, in-kind donations, consultation and workshops.

We appreciate the support of the Handbury Fellowship, Junior Landcare, Nature Glenelg Trust, RMIT, GMTOAC and WindaMara.

DIGS is a safe welcoming space which celebrates local Gunditjmara Culture and knowledge of the land, creativity and ecology.

 

DIGS Purpose

The purpose of our DIGS project is:

• to celebrate and create ongoing
• respect for,
• appreciation of,
• empathy for,
• awareness of, 
  and connection with, 
• local culture and environment

 

NOTE: a booklet of our learning is currently being created.

Stay tuned for further details!