Place Responsive Pedagogy: Adjunct Associate Professor Mary Graham, Dr Daniel McKinnon, and Gregory “Uncle Cheg” Egert in conversation

Please join us for an intimate conversation between Adjunct Associate Professor Mary Graham, Dr Daniel McKinnon, and Gregory “Uncle Cheg” Egert centred on First Nations modalities of knowledge and learning. Drawing on their shared experiences in education systems, they will discuss an Indigenous pedagogy that holds relationality with place as the foundation for meaningful inquiry.  

This conversation follows an existing initiative by The Australia Becoming collective who, led by Professor Graham, have been running events in Brisbane for the last three years. In this time, Professor Graham has spoken with many friends and colleagues on topics of relationality, place and Indigenous philosophy with the intention of creating dialogue, sharing knowledge and building community. 

Places to this free program are limited. If you have secured a place and are no longer able to attend, please let us know promptly so that we can offer the opportunity to another.  

Schedule: 

• 4pm: Arrivals and champagne 

• 4.30pm: Conversation commences 

• 5.30pm: Conversation concludes 

• 6pm: Art Museum closes 

This event is presented in partnership with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Futures at the University of Queensland. 

Please inform us of any accessibility requirements through the registration page. Please note that a two week lead time is required to secure Auslan interpretation for this event. Visit our website for our accessibility information.

Image: Rosella Namok, Old Girls Yarning into the Night 2024. UQ Art Museum Window Commission, 2024. Courtesy of the artist and FireWorks Gallery, Brisbane. Photo: Joe Ruckli

Gregory “Uncle Cheg” Egert is ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Futures Elder-in-Residence, whose role guides the IFC’s Research Committee, Community and Partner Advisory board as Chair, and the crucial space of community engagement. Uncle Cheg is from Yugara, Gorenpul and Kabi Kabi country and has extensive experience in Queensland education and strong ties with many First Nations community organisations. 

Adjunct Associate Professor Mary Graham is a Kombumerri person (Gold Coast) through her father’s heritage and affiliated with Wakka Wakka (South Burnett) through her mother’s people. Mary has worked across several government agencies, community organisations and universities including:  Department of Community Services, Aboriginal and Islander Childcare Agency, the University of Queensland and the Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action. Mary has also worked extensively for the Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action, as a Native Title Researcher and was also a Regional Counsellor for the former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. Mary has been a lecturer with The University of Queensland, teaching Aboriginal history, politics and comparative philosophy.  She has also lectured nationally on these subjects, and developed and implemented ‘Aboriginal Perspective’s’, ‘Aboriginal Approaches to Knowledge’ and at the post-graduation level ‘Aboriginal Politics’ into university curricula. 

Dr Daniel Kiwa McKinnon (Ngāti Rangitihi; Puketapu) is a recent PhD graduate of the University of Queensland with a background in secondary education as an English, Film and Humanities teacher. He was born and raised up and down the East Coast of Australia and has worked for over ten years in the Queensland public education system. His research interests include Indigenous educational sovereignty and postcolonial sociologies of schooling and education. With a particular focus on the advent of charter schooling, his PhD explored qualitative research methodologies to develop a more complex and nuanced picture of politics and education in Aotearoa, New Zealand.