This practice based project presents the story of my research journey, as Ganai man. The exegesis documents my life journey, from a young boy to adulthood on traditional country, in the Gippsland region. The stories reveal my experiences of country, identity, racism, family and language as an indigenous male. The content of this project is significant, because it reveals the importance of Indigenous local Ganai connection to country, identity, and the revival of traditional language. I have used multi-disciplinary materials, such as adobe photoshop, film and sound recordings in the making of work. My work examines and engages with personal history, culture and the revival and resounding of Ganai language. My aim is that the research and arts practice discussed in this document encourages future research, steered by Indigenous education and community initiatives. Such initiatives, may both build on my research, and provide an avenue for our younger generation to continue with the re-claiming and resounding of traditional languages.

The purpose of this research project has been to gain a deeper awareness of the practice of Cultural Awareness Training and to develop resources that will support other practitioners in the field. My hope in undertaking this project is to make the wider community more aware of what it means to be Aboriginal, at a time when jail is replacing initiation for many young Indigenous people. I want to engender a greater understanding about social, cultural and political issues in the Aboriginal community, by building bridges of awareness between Indigenous and Western cultures. My research question is: How does my approach to Cultural Awareness Training deal with uninformed and racist attitudes towards Aboriginal people in ways that effect positive, constructive change? In the documentation of my professional practice, I have examined critical incidents that have shaped my responses to uninformed and racially stereotyped attitudes within an educational context. This includes stories of overt racism in the classroom experience. In undertaking critical reflection about my professional practice as a Cultural Awareness Trainer, I have aimed to provide insights, as well as practical resources, to support the professional practice of others in this field.