Possum skin statements

https://player.vimeo.com/video/911079706

00:00:05:06 - 00:00:06:05
Growing up as a


young Aboriginal person
and going to school


and having a busy life
you kind of get isolated


from being around
other young Aboriginal people


your own age.

I had first heard about KYPAG


through the counsellor
at my school.


He said that it was quite

an opportunity,
like an experience.


The Koorie Young Person Advisory
Group was formed to make sure


that our reforms
are really keeping the voice


of young people
at the center of the work.


I guess the start of the process
was just making sure


that they felt
really comfortable


to be able to share


what they're experiencing
right now at school.

It's empowering, being able
to teach the next generation


about their culture
and also provide

some clarity around who they are


because a lot of them
are still finding their way

and unsure of who


they're going to be or even
just knowing where they belong.

It's important for young people
to be involved in conversations

regarding self-determination
because they're inheriting


a future that was supposed
to be built for them.


I learnt that self-determination

is very important


and like with the possum skins,
it just helps.

We learn so many things and
you can be a part of something


that can help change education

for Indigenous students.


I really like what
the young people came up with in

developing the possum skin cloak
and the statements.


Yeah, my reflections on some of
the things that they've said.


I guess the pressures


that they have on being able
to hold a strong identity,


develop a strong identity.


But also,
I mean, I had the privilege of


seeing the KYPAG meet


the way that they
really look out


for each other
and care and support each other.


It's important that schools know


about the possum skin statement
because there are two


main purposes of the possum
skin.


It's to share the stories
and to protect young people.


So when they wear those cloaks,
it's protecting them


and strengthening them
and culture.


And the important part about
the cloaks was the stories


that were told, often
having the designs


and patterns of the area
of the mob that theyâ€™re from


and the significance
was obviously


the stories were based on
the individuals who wore it.


So they're all different
and all unique.


The statements were really, what
do we want our schools to know?


What's going to make
our lives better?


And if we didn't have to explain
the same thing again and again


and again,


that takes the pressure off
our young people


so they can just focus
on learning


rather than having to be
a teacher and to educate others.


Yeah, so I think the statement that
sticks out to me, the most is


we don't have to be experts
on our culture.


I think that's really important


for non-Indigenous people
to know.


And everyone kind of looks
to you to know the answers and


to inform them
on their questions


and it's really important


for them to know that
we're still learning as well.

This group has helped me


learn that I get to decide
who I want to be.


I'm not alone on my journey,


that I have a community
to fall back on.


It helps me
be on the path that I want.


What we're trying to change in
the system is all about making


their experiences better
so our ancestors and our elders


didn't receive the full benefits
of the education system.

And we want to make sure
that what our students


and young people are
experiencing


isnâ€™t the same as what
as our parents and grandparents


and great-grandparents
went through.

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