"providing opportunities for all learners to deepen their knowledge of Australia by engaging with the world's oldest continuous living cultures" ("Cross-Curriculum Priorities"|ACARA. n.d.).
ACARA further explains:
"The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures priority provides the opportunity for all young Australians to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander histories and cultures, deep knowledge traditions and holistic worldviews".
"The second key concept examines the the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' cultures through language, ways of life and experiences as expressed through historical, social and political lenses. It provides opportunities for students to gain a deeper understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' ways of being, knowing, thinking and doing".
Click on this link to ACARA: www.acara.edu.au/curriculum/cross_curriculum_priorities.html
http://ihistory.worldpress.com/2007/02/13/simulation-podcast-was-australia-invaded
The above cartoon challenges the traditional thought process of the British arrival to Australia in 1788. Was Australia colonised or invaded? The heritage of Australia in regard to British settlement needs to consider the oldest continuing culture in the world were already inhabitants of the land that was documented to be 'discovered" (Gard, 2000). This concept is important when creating an understanding of the traditions, cultures and laws of the Indigenous people prior to British colonisation, and the changes that have occurred over time up until the present day.
An example of how this topic aligns with the Australian Curriculum for history is in the Year 4 achievement standard:
"By the end of Year 4, students explain how and why life changed in the past and identify aspects of the past that remained the same. They describe the experiences of an individual or group over time. They recognise the significance of events in bringing about change" ("Year 4 Achievement Standards"|ACARA, n.d.).
In life prior to British settlement the Aboriginal people lived in small groups called clans and utilised a system that provided for all of their needs, recognising the connection between land and people (Broome, 2010). Each tribe shared a common language and culture as well as understanding and honouring the land, as this was the source of life (Hillman, 2001). Carefully crafted tools were made from raw materials, and medicines were created from natural items such as bark, leaves and roots (Ellis, 2007). The Aboriginal people were self-sufficient.
Click on this link for "Introduction to Indigenous Australia": australianmuseum.net.au/Indigenous-Australia-Introduction
The settlement of the British brought with it a new way of life, diseases and disrespect for the land. The period around 1800 can be referred to as 'The Civilising Mission'. This can be described as "The desire to 'Improve' Aboriginal people, combined with the need to bolster British moral claims to possess Australia, created the civilising mission" (Broome, 2010, p.29.). This attitude of superiority led to the introduction of education, work and Christianity for Indigenous people, a world away from their own traditional culture.
After a long period of conflict, including wars, killing, degrading treatment, and removing Indigenous children from their families to be raised by white people or put in homes during the period 1909 to 1969, the rights of Aboriginal people started to be acknowledged. Stolen Generations Fact Sheet Link: reconciliaction.org.au/nsw/education-kit/stolen-generations/
In 1965 the Assimilation Policy is changed to Integration - "Aboriginal people entering Australian society on their own terms and preserving as much of their culture as they choose" (A Chronology of Major Events in our Shared History, Reconciliaction Network, n.d.). The Indigenous people have endured many years of a European culture imposed on them since British settlement. It is important to their culture for others to understand and respect a way of life that is self-sufficient and valuable.
In 1992, the Mabo case legally established that the original inhabitants of Australia were the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (Hillman, 2001).
Resources to understanding Indigenous perspectives today within the education system can be found at this link, 'Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives in Schools - A guide for school learning communities': deta.qld.gov.au/indigenous/pdfs/eatsips_2011.pdf
It is important to listen to the voices of Indigenous people today if a change is to take place in the understanding of history, and for the voices to be heard on a range of issues. The multiple narratives are to be taken into consideration when responding to the question: Was Australia colonised or invaded? Students are to be presented with a variety of stories to gain an understanding of history. The tradition of oral histories and the Indigenous perspective is extremely relevant in the education setting today.
Below is a video link to some of those voices: www.blaksidestory.com/
References
Broome, R. (2010). Aboriginal Australians: A history since 1788. Crows Nest, N.S.W: Allen & Unwin.
Ellis, J. A. (2007). Aboriginal Australians: Their journey. Penrith, NSW: Kaliarna Productions.
Gard, S. (1999). A history of Australia. South Yarra, Vic: Macmillan Education Australia.
Hillman, R. (2001).Aboriginal Australia: Towards reconciliation. Port Melbourne, Vic: Echidna Books.
Images/Video
Simulation & Podcast: Was Australia invaded? | iHistory Podcast Project. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://ihistory.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/simulation-podcast-was-australia-invaded
Blak Side Story. (n.d.). Retrieved from www,blaksidestory.com/
Hyperlinks
The Australian Curriculum v5.0 History Foundation to Year 10 Curriculum. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/History/curriculum/F-10
Cross-Curriculum Priorities | ACARA. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.acara.edu.au/curriculum/cross_curriculum_priorities.html
Education Kit - Stolen Generations. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://reconciliaction.org.au.nsw
Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives in Schools - A Guide for School Learning Communities. (n.d.). Retrieved from hhtp://deta.qld.gov/indigenous/pdfs/eatsips_2011.pdf
Introduction to Indigenous Australia - Australian Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://australianmuseum.net.au/Indigenous-Australia-Introduction
Stolen Generations Fact Sheet. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://reconciliaction.org.au/nsw/education-kit/stolen-generations/
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