Traditional Aboriginal Culture

Have set up the area with a variety of Wiradjuri relics Have a CD of didgeridoo music playing upon arrival

Activities 1 COLA

Introduction (Flash cards at end of this file) Have some serious type fun as group arrives- Use Wiradjuri words to welcome them, use Wiradjuri language to get them to sit, stand, show body parts using Wiradjuri language, sister, brother, girl, boy, man, woman, other things, ......

Acknowledgement of country Have a student do the acknowledgement Explain why we do this acknowledgement. Explain difference between acknowledgement and Welcome to country

Elders Using information sheets introduce the Elders and talk about their stories a little bit. Info sheet has photo and info re each Elder Explain different Elders in other areas

Flag Unfurl the flag. Have 2 students hold it up Question and discussion on meaning and its history Activities 2 Classroom

Wiradjuri Nation Using the map of Australia show that there are different territories based on language groups Discuss the location and size of the Wiradjuri Nation. Use English and Wiradjuri language to locate towns, places

Think Like a Wiradjuri (Powerpoint in file Abor. Lessons- What’s in a tree?)

1. What do you see in a tree? Draw picture of tree on board Ask the question: What do you see in a tree? Pupils usually answer- leaves, trunk, branches, bark, etc Write them on board. Congratulate each answer. Ask anything else?

Now say “You know Wiradjuri people see things differently”

2. Use the powerpoint to discuss: What A Wiradjuri person sees in a tree. Points below:

Wiradjuri see: Shelter from weather Food- roos, reptiles Firewood Medicine Poisons- indigo Glue Toys Music- didigeridoo, clapsticks Dyes, paint Clothes Weapons/tools- 14 kinds of boomerangs Territory markers

Now you bring in respect for land and people. Use the Wiradjuri saying: “Look after the rivers and land and the rivers and land will look after you” Close relationship with the land. Not ownership but custodians The Wiradjuri nation is built on Listening and respect

Acknowledge that this activity is from Daniel Clegg- a Wiradjuri man from Albury Activity 3 Walk (Inform them that they will be doing a map of the territory at the finish of the walk)

Lead group on a walk stopping at specific sites and discuss the uses of several trees, plants, ie resource trees, water holes- fish, animals come to drink so can catch them, yabbies, mussels, bird nests, scratch marks to locate possums and explain their uses

Come across the campsite Sit them down and discuss “knocking on the door” process. Pull out the Woomera and explain its use. Tell them to respect the area like the Wiradjuri, work together and cooperate. Keep away from the fire Let them enter the camp and explore it

RECESS Activity 4 Wiradjuri map

Sit down and Discuss Wiraduri art (See Art Lessons sheet/ Wiradjuri Traditional Culture book) Show them how to use of symbols and draw a map of the territory showing all the points you have shown them on the walk, or choose some of them. Crayons are good for this. It is a fairly quick drawing to introduce symbols and the artistic method Put name on artwork and collect to give back later Activity 5 Campsite Explain the features of the campsite- (Information in Wiradjuri Traditional Culture book)

Why is this a good campsite?

Billabong: A water and food source. Catch animals, fish, yabbies, mussels, etc Grassland: grass seeds, grass for weaving, bedding, area where emus live Woodland: resources for tools, shelters, food such as possums, bird eggs, Sheltered area from wind, morning sun Summer, winter and travelling camps Elements of campsite: Shelters: winter, summer, lookout, family A-frame, baby, windbreak, family winter. Discuss characteristics of each type

Fireplace- central to campsite Discussion area and used in tool making Hot rocks method of cooking, emu, kangaroo cooking Fire places outside shelters for warmth and cooking small snacks like yabbies

Electric blankets story

To be added: Shield tree, Coolamon trees, Carved tree, Bora ground Men’s and women’s area and Initiations Activity 6

Gunyas (Information in Wiradjuri Traditional Culture book)

Explain how to make a shelter. Stand near a shelter and talk about the materials, who used this shelter, features of construction

In groups using the sticks, bark, leaves and string provided, they make a shelter for their group. Note: string is needed for safety purposes. Explain Wiradjuri made their own rope from plants. Show a piece Activity 7

Weapons /tools (Information in Wiradjuri Traditional Culture book)

Sit around fire or at the windbreak shelter of campsite Show and tell stories of how each tool/weapon was made, used by whom, and hunting methods, etc Use Wiradjuri names Allow students time to move around and handle each tool/weapon

Note: Respect Wiradjuri protocols Activity 8 Weaving and Rope making

How did traditional Wiradjuri make the things they needed? Who would know where to get the resources to make these things? How did they know the methods of making things?

View pictures, or actual items, of baskets, rope and other artefacts

Show a range of bark and other fibres that were used Discuss plants that could be used for making ropes and baskets.

Identify some plants from pictures or nearby bushland Look at samples of different weaving materials

Baling twine is good to use for rope making activity Use balls of wool or string to make an item- bangle is good

Conclusion Discuss activities attempted and their results. Was it difficult to make the items? Discuss the ways traditions were handed down? How did traditional Wiradjuri people pass on their knowledge? (Oral history) Activity 9 Cooking-

Damper making

Grinding exercise

LUNCH- eat damper and any bush tucker provided as well as their own food Activity 10 Mussel Hunt

Realistic game is to use a blue tarp as the billabong.

Place old mussel shells (or some sort of object to represent mussels) on it.

Have students sit around it and select one to hunt the mussels

Take off their shoes (if you wish)

Because they can’t see to the bottom of a real billabong they are blindfolded and then hunt by feeling with their feet then bobbing down to pick up the mussels they find.

Put them in a coolamon?

Let them collect all the mussels. Then select another student to hunt. Blindfold them and tell them to collect mussels. They soon sort out the fact that they need mussels!!!

Discuss the Wiradjuri way of only taking what you need and conserve for later- Look after the rivers and land and the rivers and land will look after you Activity 11

Traditional Wiradjuri Games

 See folder on desktop  Turtle hunt activity  Spinning balls  Other  More to add 

SPEAR THROW

Students stand behind the line and throw their "Spear" (Pool Noodle or dowel spear) one person at a time, at a target- wheat bag of straw or cut out animal shape?

You may use a student to watch to see that no student steps over the line. Students may throw their spears any way they wish. Have the next students continue as described above and so forth until all have a turn. Make up variations Activity 12 Art  Dot Art  Wiradjuri Art  Rock Art An Activity to reinforce skills and knowledge Three balls of wool (red, black, yellow) pass from student to student each one needs to say something about either- hunting, shelter, culture depending on the ball they get. Or use other headings as appropriate. When everyone has hold of each piece of wool cut it and they weave a bangle using the pieces of wool Details of activities.

The following pages provide information for each activity. You can get additional information from the “Wiradjuri Traditional Culture book” Language Flash Cards:

A series of flash cards with Wiradjuri and English names can be made up from the file on thumb drive

REEC has a copy of flash cards in gear for study Acknowledgement of Country

Why do we do it? It is a way to show respect for Aboriginal culture and heritage and acknowledge the ongoing relationship the Aboriginals have with the land

“I would like to acknowledge the Wiradjuri people who are the Traditional Custodians of this land. I would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present of the Wiradjuri Nation and to extend that respect to Aboriginals present”

Alternate (If not sure of the Traditional Owners) “I would like to show my respect and acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land. I would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present”

Elders In the old days Elders were members of the community who had been through various levels of initiations and who had learned levels of sacred knowledge of their people. Elders were the custodians and instructors of traditional knowledge and customs. They provided guidance on all matters as well as decision making on the ceremonial and cultural obligations. Elders are responsible for decision making and must be consulted on community matters. Aboriginal people acknowledge Elders as Aunty or Uncle as a sign of respect. Aboriginal flag

The flag was designed in 1971 by Harold Thomas, an artist and Luritja man from central Australia. It was created as a symbol of unity and national identity for Aboriginal people. The flag was first flown on National Aboriginal Day- July 12th 1971 at Victoria square in Adelaide.

The meaning of the colours; Yellow represents the sun. Black represents the Aboriginal people Red represents the red earth, the red ochre and a spiritual relationship to the land.

Artefacts study

An alternate method of teaching this section Especially suitable if you are not confident of your knowledge

Through cooperative learning

Show and explain briefly each artefact to the group Allow students to move around and look closely at each artefact, touching and using each.

*** Note aboriginal protocols eg; girls can’t touch didgeridoo

In groups, students are given one artefact a fact sheet with information about their artefact and a worksheet. They fill in worksheet and report back to the whole group on their artefact.

Worksheet following page Name of Weapon/Tool

Men’s/Women’s Tool

Were there different types?

How was it used?

Were there other uses?

How was it made?

Other Facts Activity ?

Orienteering

Use picture signs of food- kangaroo, emu, bird, etc and resources like spears, grass seed, water

Place these signs out before the group arrives

Students hunt for life’s essentials

End day with Platypus legend as reminder to move forward together Language lessons

Language Groups There is no universal Aboriginal language. Each nation has its own language. There is about 250 Aboriginal languages and 600 dialects in Australia

NOTE: There is variation in language and dialects across the Wiradjuri nation. Wiradjuri is a spoken language; traditionally it was not a written language The English spelling and English translations may vary from area to area and from publication to publication It is difficult to get the true pronunciations without listening to Wiradjuri speakers

Wiradjuri Conversations

The first lessons should be playing DVD or CD of Wiradjuri speakers (Currently in the making). Other sources are currently available? Wagga Wagga The name Wagga comes from the wiradjuri word Waagan meaning crow.

The crow was named from its loud call. They are an intelligent bird who store food fo later use. They mate for life. It is considered a crafty mischief maker. The name Wagga Wagga comes from the wiradjuri word Waagan. Saying it twice is the plural so Wagga Wagga means a place where “Waagan” gathers in large groups.

Place Pic of crows here from Abor. Signs filexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x

Murrumbidgee

The name “Murrumbidgee” means big water that always flows and often floods. A Wiradjuri legend tells how the river was formed during a big drought the men goannas controlled the only source of water. A brave young female goanna, with the help of the little spirit men traced the water source and drove her digging stick into the hillside releasing the great gush of water which began the Murrumbidgee river.