Indigenous perspectives support materials
The QSA is currently developing a range of materials to support the inclusion of Australian Indigenous perspectives into the school curriculum. The following materials are available now, and more are in development.
Protocols
Protocols outline the roles and relationships expected of teachers and students working with Indigenous communities and Indigenous knowledges within an educational context.
- Welcome to Country and Acknowledgment of Country (P001, Feb 2008) (PDF, 234 kB)
Explains how to show appropriate respect for traditional custodians of the land at events. - Sharing knowledge about sacred sites and ceremonies (P002, Feb 2008) (PDF, 219 kB)
Protocols to follow when sharing knowledge about sacred sites and ceremonies.
Guidelines
Guidelines advise teachers on preferred methods for considering Indigenous issues within schools.
- Countering racism in schools (G005, Feb 2008) (PDF, 249 kB)
Strategies to prevent racism in school settings and ways to educate students on the issue of racism. - Oral histories (G006, Dec 2007) (PDF, 234 kB)
Covers the stages necessary to complete an oral history project, from preparation through to interview. (Sample interview consent form included). - Ethical Research in Indigenous Studies (G007, Jun 2007) (PDF, 157 kB)
A guiding framework for teachers and students conducting research with or about Indigenous peoples. - Selecting and evaluating resources (G008, Dec 2007) (PDF, 264 kB)
Criteria for choosing appropriate texts about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for classroom use. - Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander guest speakers (G009, Dec 2007) (PDF, 233 kB)
Describes appropriate protocols, cultural understandings and processes when engaging an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander guest speaker in a variety of settings.
Resources
Resources provide a general starting point for teachers in understanding Indigenous knowledges. Resources are developed as requested by teachers. Please email any requests/suggestions to IndigenousPortal@qsa.qld.edu.au.
- Relationships to country: Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people (Res005, Mar 2008) (PDF, 180 kB)
Describes the diverse relationships that Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people have with the Australian environment. - The history of Aboriginal land rights in Australia (1800s-1980s) (Res006, Dec 2007) (PDF, 254 kB)
Presents an overview of the land claims and rights of Aboriginal people across Australia from the 1800s-1980s. - Aboriginal ceremonies (Res010, Feb 2008) (PDF, 226 kB)
Discusses various ceremonial roles and practices, and the importance of The Dreaming in ceremonies. - Birth ceremonies, totems and rites in Aboriginal society (Res012, Apr 2008) (PDF, 183 kB)
Discusses the diverse ceremonies, rites and totems involved with the birth of a child in some Aboriginal language groups. - Defining Aboriginal stories (Res014, Feb 2008) (PDF, 225 kB)
Describes the types of stories that exist within Aboriginal culture and the importance of oral traditions and exchange. - Visual arts and Aboriginal knowledge (Res015, Dec 2007) (PDF, 230 kB)
Explores the ceremonial significance and roles that visual arts practices have within Aboriginal language groups throughout Australia.
Readings
Readings have been compiled to make a wide variety of opinions, perspectives and personal contributions of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people easily accessible to teachers. Readings are not official publications of the QSA - the ideas or sentiments expressed in them are entirely the author's own and may not reflect QSA views or policy.
- Too obvious to see (Read001, Aug 2007) (PDF, 222 kB)
A paper by Penny Tripcony explaining the basis of Aboriginal spirituality. - The gift of identity (Read002, Aug 2007) (PDF, 191 kB)
A paper by Jackie Huggins exploring the complexity and multi-layered nature of identity, in particular, an empowering sense of Aboriginality. - Englishes and literacies (Read003, Aug 2007) (PDF, 248 kB)
A paper by Penny Tripcony exploring the variety of literacies relevant to Indigenous students and their communities and offering some suggestions for educators to work more effectively with these students. - "a" is for apple (Read009, Dec 2007) (PDF, 192 kB)
A paper by Jackie Huggins on the unfair treatment of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people in written texts, including racist terminology and spelling. - Torres Strait Islander Zugubal (Read010, Jan 2008) (PDF, 232 kB)
A colourful star map showing key Torres Strait Islander zugubal contrasted with Western constellations. - Torres Strait Islander Seasonal Calendar: Introduction (Read011, Jan 2008) (PDF, 152 kB)
This file introduces the calendar, its source, and printing options. - Torres Strait Islander Seasonal Calendar: Calendar of Events (PDF, 289 kB)
Colourful A4 poster detailing key seasonal changes in seasons, winds, bird migrations, sea animals and plant life. - Torres Strait Islander Seasonal Calendar: Calendar of Stars (PDF, 203 kB)
Colourful A4 poster detailing key seasonal changes in stars. - Apology to stolen generations: questions and answers (Read012, Jan 2008) (PDF, 208 kB)
Information about the Federal Government's proposed apology to the stolen generations. Compiled by Reconciliation Australia. - Apology to Australia's Indigenous peoples: transcript (Read015, Feb 2008) (PDF, 201 kB)
Speech presented to Parliament by Kevin Rudd on 13 February 2008. First mooted as an apology to Australia's stolen generations, Hansard recorded it as an apology to Australia's Indigenous peoples. The motion of apology was passed unanimously.
Last updated: 15 August 2008
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