U3 AOS1 Australian Indigenous Culture

Question 1

Define culture

Answer 1

Culture refers to the way of life, shared values, norms and everyday practices characteristic of a particular group or society. These are learnt by members and passed on to following generations. Culture can include material and non-material components.

Question 2

Describe material culture

Answer 2

Refers to all the physical objects, artefacts, resources and spaces of society.
This includes arts, crafts, clothing, homes, schools, technology, tools and cities.

Question 3

Describe non-material culture

Answer 3

Refers to the non-physical creations and ideas of society, such as knowledge, values, beliefs, languages, symbols and social norms which are transmitted across generations.

Question 4

Language as a non-material culture

Answer 4

Language refers to a socially-constructed set of symbols, used as the main method of communication within a culture.
(The ability to communicate through the spoken and written word is a unique and important feature of human cultural groups. Without this ability human culture could not exist.)

Question 5

how many indigenous languages were there to be believed in the 1700’s

Answer 5

250

Question 6

According to the 2006 census how many indigenous people speak an indigenous language in their household

Answer 6

One in eight

Question 7

How many indigenous languages are estimated to be in Victoria today

Answer 7

38

Question 8

What are the purposes of the dreamtime stories?

Answer 8

It can :

• teach young people about natural events
• teach young people about beliefs, norms and values
• warn them about dangers
• explain relationships and identity
• teach them about the law and right behaviour

Question 9

What are the common themes in dreamtime stories?

Answer 9

• love
• loyalty
• duty to country
• aboriginal customs and law

Question 10

Define ethnocentrism.

Answer 10

Ethnocentrism is evaluating and passing judgement on another culture by using the evaluator’s own culture as a way of determining what is right and best.

Question 11

What can ethnocentrism lead to?

Answer 11

It can lead to racism and prejudicial attitudes among individuals and cultural groups, that their particular language, customs, traditions and lifestyle are better. This is because these absolute beliefs tend to promote social inequality and discrimination

Question 12

Define cultural relativism

Answer 12

Cultural relativism involves attempting to understand a culture by looking at it according to its own standards. It means analysing a culture from the point of view of its members.

Question 13

Define dispossession

Answer 13

This occurs when land is taken from a group of people by a colonial power.
(This process also extends to being displaced and disconnected from the land, severely impacting on all physical and spiritual ties to the land)

Question 14

Define reconciliation

Answer 14

Reconciliation is about forging new relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-indigenous Australians that acknowledge and heal the wounds of the past and encourage s united mutual respect, understanding, and equity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. It can be practical or symbolic

Question 15

Define practical reconciliation

Answer 15

Practical reconciliation is an approach that focuses on providing services and/or funding to address inequalities.
eg. closing the gap

Question 16

Define symbolic reconciliation

Answer 16

Symbolic reconciliation is an approach that focuses on the rights of Indigenous Australians with actions and gestures. The aim it to achieve equality and opportunity
eg. the apology

Question 17

Closing the Gap

Answer 17

A government action/policy that aims to reduce Indigenous disadvantage and inequality within 25 years. It targets 6 key areas
- health
- education
- employment
- housing
- economic participation and remote service delivery
- early childhood
It was a policy direction of the Rudd government in 2008 that emerged from the 2005 Social Justice Report and the Close the Gap Campaign.

Question 18

What are the four factors of Charles Wright Mills’ concept of sociological imagination

Answer 18

Historical
Cultural
Structural
Critical

Question 19

What does Charles Wright Mills consider sociological imagination to be

Answer 19

An awareness that facilitates distinction between personal troubles and public issues.

Question 20

What was the Victorian state law that allowed forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children

Answer 20

Aborigines Protection Act 1869

Question 21

According to the 2016 Census what percentage of the Melbourne city population are Aboriginal and Torres Trait Islander

Answer 21

50.4%, 24,062 people