The Honey and Bee Gathering Workshop

After listening to the dreaming story The Legend of the Flowers (Tales of the Dreaming, 1975) about how there were once no bees, no flowers and no honey on the earth, the children discussed how the European bees (the yellow and black bees) have a stinger and use it when they are angry or scared. They learned that native bees don’t have stingers but when they are angry or frightened they try and get in your mouth and ears and up your nose.  The children talked about how they had noticed native bees outside in the garden, then learned that Aboriginal people find bee hives by following the bees, smelling the honey as honey smells very strong when warm, or just knowing where a hive was in a tree.  To get the honey, one person would climb up the tree using notches made in the bark to hold on with their toes and fingers, like rock climbing, and use a stone axe or rock to break the hive to get the honey and the honeycomb.

The children were then organised into three groups to play characters – trees with a bee hive, bees, and gatherers – and were supported to act out a part in a story about gathering honey from bee hives.  The children took turns at being different characters and acting out this story.

 

Aunty Steff has been conducting Cultural experiences for many years at Girrinbai Preschool. Aunty Steff currently visits the preschool every Wednesday and today we had the experience of learning about the Honey Bee.

Story Submitted by Steff Phoenix and Lyn Best from Girrinbai Community Preschool. Published in October 2024.