The Bookends Project

The Bookends Project: Culture, family and life experiences

The Bookends Project presents a short video featuring two young First Nations students at Saint Ignatius’ Colllege Riverview, and Redfern Jarjum College. Kyle and Taniyah speak about what culture means to them and how culture operates in their lives.

In early 2020, The Bookends Project, in collaboration with Jesuit Communications, Redfern Jarjum College, Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview, Jesuit Refugee Service and Bankstown TAFE, recorded a series of interviews to illuminate the stories of those we seek to accompany.

To continue the important conversation with First Nations peoples, particularly at this time, we present a short video that conveys the thoughts of two young First Nations students at Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview, and Redfern Jarjum College. Kyle and Taniyah speak about what culture means to them and how culture operates in their lives. 

Reflections for students

The Bookends Project is keen to be guided by our First Nations representatives and participants throughout all we do. Thus, insight was sought from Riverview First Nations Coordinator, Kaleb Taylor on how we could reflect on the perspectives of Kyle and Taniyah in meaningful ways. 

‘I believe if you’re going out and trying to really source perspectives across the entire Aboriginal nation, there’s over 300 tribes. And within that there are laws, systems, families, different languages…If you’re going to go out and get the voice of all of these nations, I think we have to focus on a core topic, a core belief or value. Because when discussing Aboriginal issues, reconciliation, things like that, there’s different passions, there’s different thinking out there.

We invite you to listen to Kyle and Taniyah in this brief video as they introduce themselves and voice their thoughts about culture, family and life experiences.  You may wish to hold a discussion using the questions below.

Comprehension Questions:

  1. Where are Kyle and Taniya from?
  2. What language do they/did they speak?
  3. Why is this important for us to know?

Reflective Questions:

  1. What does culture mean to Kyle and Taniyah? How do you practice culture and why is it important to you?
  2. What does welcome mean to you? What does welcome mean for Kyle, and for Taniyah?
  3. What are some of the challenges raised by Kyle and Taniyah as being perceived as ‘different’? Do you experience any of these challenges? How does it make you feel?

Please be in touch with Bookends project officers  Anne Nesbitt or Hannah Welch with feedback, questions, or ideas.