This book arose after I completed my Master of Philosophy thesis, Two-Way Dialogue on Akatyerr (Desert Raisin) in a Female Indigenous Middle Years Class: Towards Cultural Inclusivity in Mathematics Curriculum and Pedagogic Practice, at QUT in 2021. The thesis enabled me to critically reflect on my role as a high school (Years 8–9) mathematics teacher in a remote Australian Indigenous community. I was particularly interested in creating opportunities for students to represent mathematical understanding beyond the familiar multimodal forms: language, numeric, and visual (Payne & Rathmell, 1977). For this reason, I sought pedagogical practices that permit students to move flexibly between language, symbols, models, and real-world understandings of mathematics (YuMi Deadly Centre, 2014). My interest in using the real world of Indigenous students’ lives as an entry point into the mathematics curriculum developed since I recognised that students could explore and see themselves, their identities, and their learning capabilities reflected in this curriculum. I am grateful for the opportunity provided by Koninklijke Brill Publishers to relate the stories contained within this book to the broader international audience.
I acknowledge and thank the late Emeritus Professor Tom Cooper for his encouragement, ideas, and support to pursue a higher degree research project when I first approached him.
I am eternally grateful to my thesis supervisor, Associate Professor Bronwyn Ewing. Thank you, Bron, for your relentless enthusiasm and support for my project ideas, meticulous proofreading of thesis drafts, patience, and good humour during the many setbacks to the progress of the study. I am grateful also to my associate supervisor, Dr Chrystal Whiteford. Thank you for your interest in this project and your guidance throughout thesis revisions.
I am deeply inspired by and grateful to Professor Chris Matthews for his advice, guidance, and encouragement with adapting and using his Goompi pedagogical cycle. I sincerely thank you, Chris, for all your encouragement and am grateful that you have provided opportunities to share this work through ATSIMA presentations. I am extremely honoured that you agreed to read the manuscript.
I am deeply grateful to bush food business pioneer Rayleen Brown for sharing with me her passion and support for intergenerational transfer of akatyerr knowledge. I thank you, Rayleen, for your ongoing support and enthusiasm for the establishment of a new Utopia Alyawarr ranger group to protect this valuable cultural resource.
I am sincerely grateful to Dr Terri Janke, solicitor director; Charisma Cubillo and Laura Curtis, solicitors; and Harry Loader, paralegal, of Terri Janke and Company. Thank you all for your contributions to writing the Indigenous cultural and intellectual property notices and providing advice and encouragement for the treatment of Indigenous knowledge shared in the study. I am deeply appreciative of the work provided when negotiating the publishing contract, the informed consent forms, and the image release deeds.
Thank you to Charlotte Cottier (accredited editor with the Institute of Professional Editors) for patiently waiting for this story to come along and being available to edit the thesis document. I am also deeply appreciative of your careful reading and professionalism when editing this manuscript.
Thank you to Stephen Nimmo (NTDOE, School Principal) and Suzanne Stone (NTDOE, Assistant Principal) for your support particularly with navigating and permitting changes to the high school timetable to allow the yarning circle research to occur. Thank you to Tim Ware (NTDOE), Cari Bertram (NTDOE), Paul Evans (NTDOE/CLC), Dr Fiona Walsh, Genevieve O’Loughlin, and Dave Albrecht for your permission to use your photographs. Thank you to Jimmy Navie from Wanta Aboriginal Corporation for your operational and collegial support throughout the research. Thank you to Lara Hynes for your good humour and skill with graphic design elements. I am appreciative of the lifelong friendship, support, and guidance with the construction and use of quadrat frames from Clorinda Schofield. Thank you to Paul Evans, my husband, for your love, belief in me, and continued support throughout the research.
Paul and I are appreciative of all our dear friends in Melbourne, especially Steve Parker, Bram Mason, Cheryl Taylor, and Clorinda Schofield, who listened eagerly while we shared countless stories. Finally, to our family – we thank you for letting us go to pursue our passion and seeking to understand our vision. We are eternally grateful for your unrelenting love and support.
Most importantly, thank you to the Utopia Eastern Anmatyerr and Alyawarr people, who welcomed Paul and me into their community and made us feel part of their family. I am deeply inspired by working alongside Sharmic. Her willingness to share cultural knowledge and continuously navigate between both worlds to develop students mathematical understanding is truly inspiring. Thank you also to the community members involved at the school site
I am deeply grateful for the many conversations before, during, and after yarning circle consultations with assistant teachers.
Finally, thank you to the four students who agreed to be a part of the akatyerr research bush trip and to their families. I am deeply appreciative of your willingness to try new learning opportunities. I am immensely proud of the ease with which you navigate both worlds as you continue your learning.