New South Wales Aboriginal Education NSW AECG Inc. - Teaching and Learning Activities Consultative Group Inc. Rights and Freedom: Wave Hill Walk-Off Stage 5 History
A Teaching and Learning Resource
In June 1966, a long running campaign of industrial protest was started by the Gurindji people on the Wave Hill cattle station in the Northern Territory, led by elder Vincent Lingiari. The cattle industry throughout northern Australia was built on Aboriginal labor who were paid very low wages.
They believed they should have been paid equal wages. Their strike became more than just an issue of wages; it was about land entitlement and ownership.
The Gurindji’s claims received wide spread media coverage. In 1975, the Gurindji were given legal title to their land in a ceremony with Vincent Lingiari and Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.
Following the earlier failure of the Gove Lands Rights case, the Whitlam Labor Government initiated an inquiry into Aboriginal land rights (known as the Woodward Commission). This eventually led to the Fraser Liberal government passing the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1972.
Student Learning Activity 1 - Research
a) Use an atlas to identify the location of Wattie Creek (NT) and mark it on a map of Australia. b) What is a strike? c) Give reasons why people strike. d) What were the people protesting about at Wave Hill in 1966? e) How long did the Gurindji strike for strike? f) What did the Wave Hill walk-off achieve? New South Wales Aboriginal Education NSW AECG Inc. - Teaching and Learning Activities Consultative Group Inc.
Student Learning Activity 2 – Song Analysis Listen to the song From Little Things, Big Things Grow by Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_ndC07C2qw
Why do you think Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody called their song “From Little Things, Big Things Grow”? Give reasons, including references from the song in your answer.
Student Learning Activity 3 – Photo Analysis
(Source: http://www.abc.net.au)
a) What is happening in this photo? b) This photo is very symbolic to Aboriginal peoples. What are the reasons for this?
Outcomes
A student: HT5-6 uses relevant evidence from sources to support historical narratives, explanations and analyses of the modern world and Australia
HT5-8 selects and analyses a range of historical sources to locate information relevant to an historical inquiry
HT5-10 selects and uses appropriate oral, written, visual and digital forms to communicate effectively about the past for different audiences