Tjina Maala Remembering My Family Colouring Book

Remembering My Family

1

I like spending time with my family.

2

Some special people in my family are ______________________________________________________.

3

Our family is from _____________________________________.

This place is very special to me.

4

Family get upset when someone has a bad luck or passes away.

5

When someone passes away we go to their funeral to pay our respects.

6

Sometimes when we think about them we feel sad.

7

Family sometimes get sad or angry because they haven’t had time to say goodbye.

8

Some places have a sorry camp.

9

Twelve months after the funeral we can visit again to remember them.

10

Some days are better than others. We will always remember them.

11

Even though the body has passed away their spirit lives on.

12

Feeling sad can last a long time, but it’s okay.

13

I know my family look over me. I love my family.

14

My story...

“The demonstration of grief is a major part of Aboriginal culture. Although practices are diverse throughout Australia, funerals are attended by many, and ceremonies and rituals are organised and performed by family members. The demonstration of respect to the deceased and their family is very important to the Aboriginal community. In some areas, there is a period of time set aside to mourn the deceased, known as ‘Sorry Time’… In some cultures, a quick recovery is the rule, but not so in Aboriginal culture. This is a major cultural difference and impacts greatly on the resilience.”

Kickett, M. (2011). Examination of how a culturally-appropriate definition of resilience affects the physical and mental health of Aboriginal People (Doctoral dissertation, The University of Western Australia).

About this resource This resource has been developed to help support Aboriginal children and young people dealing with grief and loss. The story has been guided by Aboriginal consultants and stakeholders and is written in a general context. The illustrations have been created by Wongi artist Naomi Bonney (Noni Art & Design). The font OpenDyslexic has been used to increase readability for people with dyslexia. This narrative will not represent all Aboriginal people as each person is unique with their own background, culture and experiences.

It is important to note that the resource may trigger different emotions for different people. It is necessary for professionals using this resource to understand the emotional wellbeing needs of the youths they are working with.

It is advised that individuals seek further guidance from an Aboriginal health worker or liaison officer if required.

This resource is a tool developed by Tjina Maala Centre. Tjina Maala Centre (Wongi for ‘going on a journey’) is a disability support service and initiative of the Pika Wiya Kuthupa Project (Wongi for ‘not sick, different one’). The project is funded by the Non-Government Centre Support Scheme and is an initiative of Ability Centre. This resource was generously funded by a donation to Tjina Maala Centre for the benefit of communities in the Goldfields.

Tjina Maala Centre ‘GOIN G ON A JOUR N EY’ 9021 1333 0439 596 125 Lotteries House 42 Wilson Street, Kalgoorlie, WA 6430

Lenice Forman (full-time) Community Engagement Officer lenice.forman@abilitycentre.com.au Deanne Williams (part-time) Community Engagement Officer deanne.williams@abilitycentre.com.au

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