Chapter 4D Flashcards
aboriginal and torres strait islander approaches to learning
respectful use of language
The terms most often used to name Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples; including Indigenous and First Nations are all English words.
It has become much more common for people to be described by their
indigenous language group – Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nations for
example.
These terms should always start with a capital letter and usually written as a
plural – to signify the vast diversity of the culture.
major aboriginal group names
- Koori: Represents Aboriginal people from the South East of the Australian mainland (Let’s say anywhere
south of Kempsey down to Melbourne). - Noongar: Noongars (Nungas/Nungahs) are Aboriginal people from the South West of the Australian
mainland. Variations of this name are also used in areas of South Australia too. - Murri: Murri’s (or Murry) are Aboriginal people from Queensland & Far Northern NSW.
- Palawa: Aboriginal people of Tasmania.
- Yolngu: Yolngu people are one of many Indigenous groups in Northern Australia and we are adding them
to this grouping because their name and people are so prominent in Australian television & music.
country
Aboriginal Australians have a deep
cultural connection to their “country” or
ancestral lands, and a custodial responsibility to
care for them. But “country” doesn’t only refer to
the physical landscape – it includes everything
associated with it, including people, animals,
cultural practices, knowledge, art and more. A
welcome to country is a ceremony performed by
Traditional Owners (descendants of the region’s
traditional ethnic group) to welcome visitors to
their traditional land.
deadly
The word “deadly” is used by many
Aboriginal people to mean amazing or awesome,
much in the same way the word “sick” is used as
a positive term by youths around the world.
mob
: This English word is used by Aboriginal
Australians to mean kin, typically a family or tribal
group. When meeting for the first time, Aboriginal
people will usually ask each other: “Who’s your
mob?” The answer will typically reveal where they’re
from and who they’re related to.
songline
Also called a “dreaming track”, a “songline”
is a path across the land or sky that marks the route
followed by creator-beings during the Dreaming.
Within the belief system of Aboriginal Australians,
songlines are represented in traditional song cycles,
stories, dance and art and often used as the basis for
ceremonies.
what is a system of knwledge
- For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, a system of
knowledge is that knowledge and skills are based on interconnected
understandings, which aid survival and contribute to community
identity.
multimodel
We might use many different
strategies to teach a topic to
someone – show pictures,
give written or verbal
descriptions, watch a
demonstration, write about
something or carry out an
activity or role play.
* In First Nations systems, a
multimodal approach is also
used to impart information.
learning embedded in relationships
- Relationships between concepts
- Relationships between learner and
teacher - Relationships between individuals, families
and communities - Relationship with Country
concept of family
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have strong family
values. The family system has an extended family structure, as
opposed to the nuclear or immediate family structure which is
common in western society. This means the child rearing
responsibilities extend beyond the immediate family group
and may include aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. - In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, it is a sign of
respect for someone to refer to those older than them as
Aunty or Uncle. This is especially true if they are family but can
be extended to others as a sign of respect. It is also common
for individuals to refer to others, even those outside of their
immediate family, as brothers, sisters, or cousins, depending
on the closeness of their relationship.
