Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Culture:

Settlement or invasion?

Our perspective of Australian settlement is ever-changing, especially considering the increasing equality and recognition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait population in contemporary Australia. The discovery of new information unsettles and challenges previous understandings of the situation.  

 

Image: (Mortimer, n.d.)

The Rabbits, a picture book written by John Marsden and illustrated by Shaun Tan, tells of the arrival and settlement of the Europeans in the form of an allegorical narrative through the Indigenous perspective.

The use of a narrative picture book would be effective in the teaching of this cross-curricular priority as engages the reader’s interest visually and is also challenging underlying frameworks and understandings. The allegorical setting forces minds to reflect on the story and drives them to understand the message the author is trying to convey. A helpful lesson guide is provided online by Nancy Mortimer. 

Furthermore, some interesting videos about settlement:

The First Australians (Episode 1, Part 1) - 

Babakiueria -  

The point is there is more than just the ‘invasion’ part to the story of Australia’s settlement and there is more than just the ‘European expansion and colonisation’ part too. Australian history is made up of many stories. They are integrated to make what Australia is today. It is important not to only consider the ‘white Australian’ point of view but also the Indigenous point of view.  This is why it important not just to educate students by teaching them events but by also challenging them with underlying contexts, meanings, values, attitudes and beliefs that influenced the occurrence of historical events. This is the value of History in our education systems.   

The events of history cannot be undone but “this knowledge and understanding [of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and culture] will enrich [the students’] ability to participate positively in the ongoing development of Australia.” (Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority, n.d.). Understanding history is fundamental to looking forward to a brighter future.

“The Australian Curriculum: history values Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures. It celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories as part of the shared history belonging to all Australians” (Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority, n.d.).This also reflects a Biblical perspective in that everyone is equal under Jesus. For in Galatians 3:28, it states “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Bible Gateway, ESV, 2013).  

References:

Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority. (n.d.). Cross Curricular Priorities. Retrieved  6 June 2013 from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/History/Cross-Curriculum-Priorities

Bible Gateway. (2013). Galatians 3:28. Retrieved 7 June 2013 from http://www.biblegateway. com/passage/?search=galatians%203:28&version=ESV

Commonagenet. (2010). The First Australians.Ep1/7.Pt1/7 – They came to stay [YouTube]. Retrieved 7 June 2013 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcslF8yQ1Tg

Mortimer, N. (n.d.). The Rabbits: Teacher Notes. Retrieved 5 June 2013 from http://www.thearrival.com.au/downloads/TG_TheRabbits.pdf

Quietthomas. (2010). Babakiueria [YouTube]. Retrieved 7 June 2013 from   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHK308_MTiU