Reconciliation

Episode 14 Activity 27th May 2014

Reconciliation

Key Learning Students will develop a deeper understanding of what reconciliation is and the importance of commemorating events such as Reconciliation Week.

The Australian Curriculum

History / Historical Knowledge and Understanding / Civics and Citizenship Knowledge and Australia as a Nation Understanding/ Citizenship, diversity and identity Experiences of Australian democracy and citizenship, including How groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander the status and rights of Aboriginal people and/or Torres Strait Peoples, express their particular identities, how this influences Islanders, migrants, women, and children. (ACHHK114) their perceptions of others, and others’ perception of them (ACHCK053)

The contribution of individuals and groups, including Aboriginal people and/or Torres Strait Islanders and migrants, to the development of Australian society, for example in areas such as the economy, education, science, the arts, sport.(ACHHK116)

History / Historical Knowledge and Understanding / Community and Remembrance Days and weeks celebrated or commemorated in Australia (including Australia Day, ANZAC Day, Harmony Week, National Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC week and National Sorry Day) and the importance of symbols and emblems.(ACHHK063)

Discussion Questions

1. Summarise the BtN story. 2. What does Reconciliation Week celebrate? 3. The kids in the BtN story are singing songs in which Indigenous language? 4. About how many Indigenous languages are there in Australia? 5. What has happened to Indigenous languages since European settlement? 6. What are the kids in the BtN story doing to keep their language alive? 7. What has learning Noongar taught the kids? 8. Why is it important to keep Indigenous languages alive? 9. Why is preserving Indigenous languages difficult? 10. Do you think all school kids should learn an Indigenous language? Explain your answer.

©ABC 2014 Activities

Engage

Discuss as a class what s students know about reconciliation. Use the following questions to generate discussion:

 What is reconciliation?  Why is reconciliation important?  What values are important to reconciliation and why are they important?  Why do we commemorate events such as Reconciliation Week?  How does your class and/or school support reconciliation?  What else could be done to support reconciliation?

Timeline of important events

Students will research and create a timeline of important events that have impacted on the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Key events to consider include:

 European settlement

 Federation

 Referendum that gave the government the power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

 Uluru is handed back to its traditional owners

 High Court Mabo decision

 National Sorry Day is commemorated

 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally apologises to the Stolen Generations

The following interactive timeline will help students find important events http://www.reconciliationsa.org.au/timeline/a-reconciliation-timeline

Create an artwork

Students create an artwork that represents reconciliation. Ideas for artworks could include:

 Recognising the Aboriginal people of your area  Ways of symbolising `coming together’  A portrait of a significant Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

©ABC 2014 Students can choose a variety of media and materials to create their art work. These could include:

 Drawing (charcoal, felt pens, oil pastels, watercolour pencils, crayon resist)  Painting (acrylic, oil, watercolours)  Photography  Electronic  Mixed media (collage, photomontage)

Encourage students to display their artwork in a public space in the school.

Biography

 Students will choose a significant Indigenous person and create a biography about them. They will need to research what their achievements are and how their achievements have impacted on Australian society. How have they contributed to reconciliation?

Research questions Significant Indigenous People

 Who is the biography about? Eddie Mabo  Where are they from? Find it on a map. Pat O’Shane  What did they achieve? Adam Goodes

 What were their challenges? Cathy Freeman Lowitja O’Donoghue  In what ways have they impacted on Mandawuy Yunupingu Australian society? Neville Bonner  How have they contributed to the reconciliation Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu process?

The following plan provides a guide for students when writing a biography.  Research  Set a direction for your biography  Create a plan  Start writing  Edit

Encourage students to present their research using maps, timelines, drawings and photographs in an interesting way, for example using:  Prezi http://prezi.com/index/  Glogster http://www.glogster.com/  Bio Cube Creator http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/cube_creator/

Remind students that they will need to cite all references in a bibliography at the end of their biography.

As a class, think about ways the school could recognise and support reconciliation. Ask students to think of ways this could be achieved. Here are a few starting points:

 Indigenous guest speakers, for example artists, musicians, sports people could talk to classes/whole school about what reconciliation means to them.  Create your own bush tucker garden at your school. Find plants that are native to your school area. Take a look at BtN’s Bush Tucker teacher resource for more information http://www.abc.net.au/btn/resources/teacher/episode/20120619-bushtucker.pdf  Create values flags in Indigenous colours with the core values important to reconciliation written on the flags. Display these in the school grounds.  Find out more about the Indigenous people where you live. How many people still speak the language? Is it being taught in schools or universities?

 Learn an Indigenous game. The following website has a range of Indigenous games to choose from http://www.ausport.gov.au/participating/indigenous/resources/games_and_activities/individual_game s Teach it to other students in your school.

 Related Research Links

Behind the News – Local Languages http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3630913.htm

ABC Indigenous Portal - Indigenous Languages Map http://www.abc.net.au/indigenous/map/default.htm

ABC 730 WA – Indigenous kids connect to language and culture through song http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-11/noongar-music-culture-students-school-song-language/5385614

National Reconciliation Week http://www.reconciliation.org.au/nrw/

National Reconciliation Week – Activity kit (pdf) http://www.reconciliation.org.au/raphub/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/National-Reconciliation-Week-activity- kit-compressed.pdf