The past and the future will be in focus as Heritage South’s Southland Heritage Month 2020 opens up a discussion around what stories Southland students should be taught as a compulsory part of the school curriculum from 2022.
Heritage South Chair Rachael Egerton said the opening night event on March 5 at the Ascot Park Hotel will present a topical and wide-ranging discussion on the subject as history curriculum development happens during 2020.
“We’re really excited about the opportunity to promote conversations around our region’s stories and the place they could or should have in students’ learning.
“Guest speakers will highlight special Southland stories that have shaped our regional character and identity and consider which should be part of students’ learning in Southland schools,” she said.
Tangata whenua alongside other speakers, Steve Watters from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Ngāi Tahu historian Dr Michael Stevens, Emeritus Professor Tom Brooking and local historian and educator Lloyd Esler, will help outline Southland’s place in history in a national context.
The free opening night event will be followed with a workshop the next day to discuss opportunities to bring our stories into Southland history and social studies curricula, Egerton said.
“The emphasis will be on networking, resources, and practice that balances heritage experiences with classroom learning.”
The workshop has been designed as a valuable professional development opportunity for teachers of history and social studies, but was open to anyone wishing to register, she said.
The history in schools theme opens the door to a month full of stimulating events and happenings, which everyone is encouraged to check out.
A hands-on afternoon entitled In My Day explores the question: How did we communicate before we used the internet and smart phones?
Invercargill library and archives staff invite people to bring someone from another generation for a fun afternoon of chatting, asking questions and sharing memories – looking at how people met and socialised in the 20th Century, what people learnt at school and what music people listened to, among other topics.
In My Day is being held on Saturday March 14, 1pm–3pm, at the Invercargill City Library and Archives. Admission is free.
On the same day, Rob Tipa, author of the book Treasures of Tāne: Plants of Ngāi Tahu, is holding a hands-on experience at the Southland Community Nursery in Otatara entitled Traditional Uses of Native Plants.
Morning and afternoon sessions were being held to allow people to attend both events on the day, Egerton said.
Heritage South is also working with the Invercargill City Council (ICC) to provide a workshop for owners of heritage buildings.
Around the region, people in the Gore area can join the Hokonui Heritage Research Centre’s archivist, Bruce Cavanagh, and discover the significant resources the Gore Library has to support family history research, at the Gore Library, James Cumming Wing, on March 11.
Historic Riverton-Aparima walking tours are being held on March 14 and 15.
Heritage Month 2020 promotes and runs alongside several other heritage-related events, including the Southland A&P Show on March 7 and the Riverton Heritage Harvest Festival on March 28 and 29.
Heritage South is a community organisation working to promote opportunities for heritage, encouraging the retention of living heritage, fostering goodwill and co-operation and raising the profile of heritage.
Full details of Southland Heritage Month 2020 events can be found on the Heritage South Facebook page and in the brochure, being distributed widely around the region.