library: History Year 5: NAIDOC WEEK

Introducing this year’s NAIDOC theme: Always Was, Always Will Be

Always Was, Always Will Be recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were Australia’s first explorers, first navigators, first engineers, first farmers, first botanists, first scientists,first diplomats, first astronomers and first artists.NAIDOC Week 2020 acknowledges and celebrates that our nation’s story didn’t begin with documented European contact whether in 1770 with Captain James Cook, or in 1606 with the arrival of the Dutch on the western coast of the Cape York Peninsula. The very first footprints on this continent were those belonging to First Nations people.

NAIDOC 2020 invites all Australians to embrace the true history of this country – a history which dates back thousands of generations. It’s about seeing, hearing and learning the First Nations’ 65,000-plusyear history of this country - which is Australian history.
Source: naidoc.org.au/get-involved/2020-theme and reproduced here with permission.

Dirtsong by Black Arm Band

Books In our Library

ALWAYS WAS, ALWAYS WILL BE

This year's winning poster - Shape of Land - judged by the National NAIDOC Committee to illustrate the 2020 NAIDOC theme: Always Was Always Will Be.

Source:Illustrator: Tyrown Waigana, Image: NAIDOC

Tyrown Waigana is an artist and designer living in Perth, Western Australia. He has Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, which can be traced to the Noongar people of south-west Western Australia and Saibai Island in the Torres Strait.

Cover artwork: The Rainbow Serpent came out of the Dreamtime to create this land. It is represented by the snake and it forms the shape of Australia, which symbolises how it created our lands. The colour from the Rainbow Serpent is reflected on to the figure to display our connection to the Rainbow Serpent, thus our connection to Country. The overlapping colours on the outside is the Dreamtime. The figure inside the shape of Australia is a representation of Indigenous Australians showing that this country – since the dawn of time – always was, and always will be Aboriginal land.

Inspiring First Nations Women Who have Changed Australia.

Teaching Resources - 2020 NAIDOC Week - SBS Learn

NAIDOC Week - Year 5
NAIDOC Week Year 6

A Sydney Aboriginal personality, known as the King of the Blacks in the early days of the colony. He led an amazing life having circumnavigated Australia with Matthew Flinders.

1. Bungaree

Bungaree was from the Darkinjung people of NSW, and was one of the first officially documented
Aboriginal explorers of Australia.

Ask students to watch the story below:

Bungaree | SBS On Demand

sbs.com.au

Ask the students to take notes about Bungaree’s life.
In small groups brainstorm ideas on how you could develop a way to recognise Bungaree’s life and achievements.
For example, students could create a news report to be posted online explaining some of the interesting things they have found out or, students could write a poem in response to what they learnt about Bungaree.

David Unaipon

David Unaipon is featured on the Australian $50 note – perhaps the students have seen his face on
Australian currency.

Source:RBA

Who was David Unaipon and what led him to be featured on the $50 note? Discuss possibilities as a class, and write up suggestions.
From a reputable source, find information about some of David Unaipon’s achievements. He made notable contributions as an advocate, as well as to literature and science.
Working in small groups, have students develop a way to celebrate the life and achievements of David Unaipon.

Useful resources

10 Inventions of Aboriginal people
The People of Budj Bim by the Gunditjmara people with Gib Wettenhall (Empress Publishing, 2010, republished in 2018) tells the story of the engineers of aquaculture, builders of stone house settlements and warriors of defending Country.

How can we learn from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples when it comes to looking after Country?
How do Aboriginal people listen to Country?
What can we learn from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about Kinship and looking after your community?
"Dr Lynette Riley (Senior Lecturer, Leader Indigenous Strategy - The University of Sydney) has developed a learning module around Kinship."
Click on the following link to complete the Kinship Module. Here you will learn about Aboriginal Kinship Systems. a learning module around Kinship.

Watch this video on traditional burning, while considering the context of the major bushfires Australia experienced in the summer of 2019/2020. Together, identify the principles described, and make a list of traditional bushfire management practices and what they involve. Facilitate a class discussion about whether these principles can be implemented in Australia today. How could they be implemented? In the video, was this a successful initiative, and what are the plans for future implementation?
Have the students look up past winners of the ‘Caring for Country’ NAIDOC Awards category. Working in groups, select one recipient per group to research. Present findings on the recipient’s achievements, and why they won. Connect this award to what the students have learnt about how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been caring for Country for more than 65,000 years and the practices employed to do this.
As a class investigate Lowitja O’Donoghue. What has she dedicated her life to doing? With the information students have found collectively, ask them to produce a resource for other students which tells them about Lowitja O’Donoghue.
In pairs ask students to research a variety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have worked or are working hard to make change.
Did you know the Mer Islanders (from the Torres Straits) decided they would be the ones to challenge the legal principle of Terra Nullius in the High Court and that Eddie Mabo would be the one to lead that action? The Mabo case ran for 10 years.

Terra Nullius is a Latin term meaning 'empty land' or 'land belonging to no one'.

What is Naidoc?

NAIDOC History
NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920′s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
2020 Theme: Always Was, Always Will Be.
Always Was, Always Will Be. recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years.

NAIDOC 2020 Always was, Always will be

NAIDOC - LINKS

Reconciliation Australia
Reconciliation Australia was established in 2001 and is the lead body for reconciliation in the nation.
AIATSIS
The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) is a world-renowned research, collections and publishing organisation. We promote knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, traditions, languages and stories, past and present.
Indigenous.gov.au
This website is designed to connect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with Australian Government policies and programs and raise awareness about the initiatives that affect you most. The site shares stories from individuals, communities and organisations across Australia, telling real stories about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the challenges and opportunities facing them, and the successes and achievements being demonstrated every day.

History Year 5: NAIDOC WEEK

NAIDOC WEEK 2020: ALWAYS WAS, ALWAYS WILL BE.