Year 5 students pose with the First Nations education game they have created.

Students create Djeembana Game

The Year 5 First Nations Va’ad (committee) have developed a board game entitled Djeembana (gathering) which helps children learn about First Nation’s culture. They wanted a creative and engaging way of teaching about First Nations culture and decided upon a board game. They then set about designing the board, pieces and a unique way of advancing from space to space using feathers. 

Students had to research the information and then design a set of rules. The board takes students on a trip through all the Aboriginal nations in Victoria. Along the way, they pick up cards that teach them about various interesting aspects of First Nation’s life. A really wonderful enterprise that has been taught to all Junior School students during Reconciliation Week. Each year level now has its own copy to play whenever they like.