Annual Report 2020 Vision Our Academy and communities will work together to make our children strong in both Bininj (Indigenous) This annual report and Balanda (non- was compiled by Georgia Vallance for Nawarddeken Academy Limited. Unless otherwise Indigenous) learning, stated, all photographs are copyright of Nawarddeken Academy or Warddeken Land so that when they Management. Special thanks to Nawarddeken from across the Warddeken Indigenous leave the Academy, Protected Area for permission to use their images and images of they have the their clan estates. Our Logo The Nawarddeken knowledge, skills Academy logo depicts NAWARDDEKEN ACADEMY ACADEMY NAWARDDEKEN a hunter spearing barrk REPORT ANNUAL (black wallaroo) painted by Warddeken founder and confidence that and patron, Bardayal Lofty Nadjamerrek OAM (1926 -2009). Painted by Bardayal as a gift for his they need to make grandchildren in 2003, the original white ochre image can be seen on an escarpment wall two Front cover: Kerrida good life choices. Namarnyilk enjoys a kilometres to the south swim during a learning west of Kabulwarnamyo. on country trip. It is the last known piece Left page: Richard Nadjamerrek at the of rock art completed in important rock art Australia. and occupation site WARDDEKEN COMMUNITIES Kundjorlomdjorlom. We are teaching young people about the walking routes, Contents the place names, experiences with the 04 The Nawarddeken Academy Story country. And then 06 Objectives & Guiding Principles they in turn follow 10 Board of Directors this way. This is not 15 Chairperson’s Report a new thing. It’s just 16 Executive Officers’s Report what our old people 18 Governance before us taught us. 22 Committees 24 Our People Professor Mary Kalkiwarra NADJAMERREK 28 Parents & Community 32 Teaching & Learning 44 Indigenous Language & Culture 54 Planning, Evaluation & Self-Assessment 58 Facilities & Resources 60 Karrkad Kanjdji Trust Report 62 Financial Report NAWARDDEKEN ACADEMY ACADEMY NAWARDDEKEN REPORT ANNUAL 1 2 NAWARDDEKEN ACADEMY ACADEMY NAWARDDEKEN REPORT ANNUAL 3 The Nawarddeken Academy Story Bardayal, along with his wife Mary Kalkiwarra In 2017, Nawarddeken Academy Limited was The idea of a learning and their children, grandchildren and other registered as a wholly owned subsidiary of place for the children of families from across the plateau established WLML and a Board of Directors was instated. a life on country. Deeply committed to caring In December 2018, we gained Independent Kabulwarnamyo began for the kuwarddewardde, Bardayal and his School Registration, which commenced supporters established a ranger program in January 2019. Registration provides for back in 2002, when at Kabulwarnamyo, which evolved into recurrent government funding that will secure the eminent professor Warddeken Land Management Limited. the financial future of the Academy and, more importantly, provide Kabulwarnamyo students Working with neighbours and partners, the with the education they deserve. Bardayal Lofty Warddeken ranger program established the Nadjamerrek OAM world’s first customary fire and greenhouse The Academy at Kabulwarnamyo is both a gas abatement program – the West Arnhem deep source of pride and a critical piece of (pictured right) led a Land Fire Abatement (WALFA) Agreement. socioeconomic infrastructure. Since 2015, Ever since, income generated through WALFA NAL has employed 103 people, 82 of whom return of Nawarddeken has supported Nawarddeken Traditional are Indigenous. In addition to recurrent Traditional Owners Owners to live and work on country. government funding, the Academy continues to have the financial and logistical support of For some years, rangers and their families to his country at both WLML and KKT. lobbied for education to be delivered on Mankungdjang on country so they would not have to leave Our children are now receiving a first- their children with family in larger towns. rate education on country. Our bicultural the Mok clan estate, Elders and parents dreamed of bicultural education approach engages Indigenous education to make their children strong in leaders, rangers and skilled teachers. The despite the fact that two worlds – Bininj (indigenous) and Balanda future of Nawarddeken depends on our government funding (non-indigenous). children learning to live, work, and thrive within two knowledge systems, and the This dream was realised in 2015 when, with NAWARDDEKEN ACADEMY ACADEMY NAWARDDEKEN was no longer available Nawardddeken Academy is playing a critical REPORT ANNUAL the generous support of the Karrkad Kanjdji role in securing this future. 4 to establish homeland Trust (KKT) and Gunbalanya School, the 5 Nawarddeken Academy was established at communities. Kabulwarnamyo. The following year, at the request of community elders and mothers of young children, an Early Learning Program for 0-4 year old children was established, which also provides valuable training and part-time employment opportunities for young mothers. Previous Page: Happy campers! Some of the attendees at the Barradj Culture Camp. Objectives & Guiding Principles In late 2014, community members and elders sat down to talk about what they wanted a school to deliver for the young people of the stone country, and the unique opportunities establishing a school on-country presented. These conversations, along with community consultations and workshops, led to the development of Objectives and Guiding NAWARDDEKEN ACADEMY ACADEMY NAWARDDEKEN REPORT ANNUAL 6 Principles that reflect the 7 aspirations of Nawarddeken Traditional Owners. They provide a clear foundation for what the Nawarddeken Right Page: Proud father Zacharia Namarnyilk looks on at son Bundi on a visit to Academy will achieve. an important rock art gallery. Objectives & Guiding Principles Objectives Guiding Principles • Support the social, cultural, • Respect, and the ability to emotional and physical integrate customary modes wellbeing of every child of learning guided by our • Promote intergenerational old people with a ‘western’ education where families educational curriculum. and communities share • Facilitate a unique curriculum learning experiences based on our land, language to conserve indigenous and culture, using formal and knowledge and languages. informal teaching and learning • Empower young people to approaches; emphasising be strong and confident mental and physical health, in western and Indigenous while cultivating individual knowledge systems. and collective respect and responsibility. • Preserve Nawarddeken languages and culture • Incorporate flexibility, through bilingual and enabling continuous bicultural experiential improvement and positive learning. responses to changing circumstances. • Develop clear pathways for young Indigenous people • Access all available of west Arnhem Land that technology to overcome match their aspirations the disadvantage of our and the aspirations of geographical remoteness, their families. and to ensure our resilience. • Recruit, support and retain high quality staff underpinned by strong leadership and competent governance. NAWARDDEKEN ACADEMY ACADEMY NAWARDDEKEN REPORT ANNUAL 8 9 Left Page: Natasha Yibarbuk’s poster about respect. Board of Directors Dean Yibarbuk is a Naomi Nadjamerrek is Leonie Jones has 40 years Kenneth Mangiru is a Conrad Maralngurra is a Margie Moroney has an Traditional Owner of a proud Mok woman - a experience working in the Traditional Owner of Traditional Owner of the impressive resume as a Djinkarr, near Maningrida Traditional Owner of area of Aboriginal education the Kudjumarndi estate Kudjekbinj estate and global finance industry and of Yanjkobarnem in the Mankungdjang estate, in the NT. Leonie runs an and lives in Gunbalanya. lives in Mamardawerre, professional. She specialised Kenneth speaks Kunwinjku a homeland community in corporate advisory Warddeken IPA. Dean was where the Academy is educational consultancy, and English, and is in the Warddeken IPA. work in the agribusiness a driving force behind the situated. She is also a proud providing mentoring and mother to Delsanto, who is training for school principals well respected for his Conrad speaks Kunwinjku, sector consulting to development of the Djelk a student at the Academy. and support for Aboriginal cultural knowledge. He Maung, Yulngu Matha organisations, government, Rangers and establishment Naomi worked for many students. With eight years is an experienced board and English. He plays the semigovernment bodies, of WLML. He is currently years as a Warddeken living and working out member, and has been didjeridoo and guitar. and statutory marketing chairperson of NAL, WLML ranger and in 2017 started bush, she understands the a director of Warddeken Conrad has worked as authorities. She is a past and a director of ALFA (NT) work as an educator at unique challenges and Land Management an Assistant Teacher member of international Ltd, three not-for-profit Nawarddeken Academy. opportunities faced by Limited since 2008. He at Gunbalanya School, boards and investment organisations established to Academy staff and students. currently works with servicing outstation funds, and was the inaugural support a movement back Njanjma Rangers as part schools, and has three Chair of the CSIRO Textile, to country linked to critical of a team responsible for years Norforce training, Clothing and Footwear conservation issues. environmental and cultural including reconnaissance, Sector Advisory Committee. heritage protection combat and first aid. NAWARDDEKEN ACADEMY ACADEMY NAWARDDEKEN