Traditional Indigenous Games
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Yulunga Traditional Indigenous Games ausport.gov.au/isp Yulunga Traditional Indigenous Games Traditional Indigenous Games The games outlined in this resource are considered primarily as a contribution towards the implementation of Indigenous Australian perspectives across the education curriculum, from Kindergarten to Year 12 (K–12). It is recommended that local elders are consulted and invited to be involved in some way prior to undertaking any unit of work or special event using the Traditional Indigenous Games. Examples of statements that might be acceptable to local elders and that can be made in association with the use of the games in this resource are: ‘We pay our respect to the traditional custodians of this land.’ ‘We acknowledge that we are on the traditional lands of the … peoples and pay our respects to the traditional custodians.’ In the language of the Kamilaroi (Gamori) people of north‑western New South Wales, Yulunga means ‘playing’. Acknowledgments The Australian Sport Commission acknowledges Ken Edwards for the extensive and thorough research undertaken to collate the Yulunga: Traditional Indigenous Games. To create this resource, Ken Edwards with the assistance of Troy Meston reviewed almost every available account of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander games from all parts of Australia. The Australian Sports Commission recognises the traditional owners of the games and activities that formed the basis of this resource. This resource is dedicated to all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Traditional Indigenous Games Consultants Ken Edwards (PhD) is a former physical education teacher and academic in the Faculty of Health (School of Human Movement Studies) at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane. He is currently a staff member in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (School of Humanities — Education) at Bond University on the Gold Coast. Troy Meston is a graduate of the Faculty of Education at QUT and currently Director of Blackbase in Brisbane. He is actively involved in the promotion of Indigenous traditional games in schools and community groups. Disclaimer The Traditional Indigenous Games resource has been designed for people of all ages. The resource assumes that each person participating in the activities is healthy and has no medical condition that would preclude him or her from participating in the activities. People should not be allowed to participate in an activity if any medical, physical or other factor indicates that he or she is not suited to that activity. Where there are any queries or concerns about such matters, the consent of the participant, or if under 18, the participant’s parent/legal guardian, should be obtained before allowing participation. Adult supervision must be provided for all activities where participants are under 18 years of age. While care has been taken in the preparation of the resource, the publisher and authors do not accept any liability arising from the use of the resource, including without limitation, from any activities described in the resource. © Australian Sports Commission 2008 This work is copyright. Apart from any uses as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 and subsequent amendments, no part of this publication may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the Australian Sports Commission. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction should be addressed to [email protected] For general enquiries regarding the Australian Sports Commission: Tel: (02) 6214 1111 Fax: (02) 6251 2680 Email: [email protected] Website: ausport.gov.au ISBN 978 1 74013 102 5 Content by Ken Edwards, with assistance by Troy Meston Illustrations by Glenn Robey Produced by Australian Sports Commission Publishing staff Foreword The Yulunga: Traditional Indigenous Games resource was developed to provide all Australians with a greater understanding and appreciation of Indigenous culture — the way it was many thousands of years ago and still is today. Over the years sport has played a major role in developing a socially cohesive environment within Indigenous communities. Many of the games you see today have evolved from traditional games of the past. Through this unique sporting resource, traditional Indigenous culture can be experienced and enjoyed by all Australians. It combines curriculum principles and cultural traditions in sport-related activities for people of all ages, while ensuring the integrity of traditional games. It can be used in schools around Australia as an educational resource and as a guide to inclusive, structured sport within communities. Adam Goodes Sydney Swans AFL player Ambassador, Indigenous Sport Program, Australian Sports Commission iii Contents Foreword ...................................................................................................................... iii Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 Games Ball and top spinning games ............................................................................... 3 Ball games ................................................................................................................... 8 Ball-hitting games ...................................................................................................38 Ball-rolling games ....................................................................................................63 Boomerang games ..................................................................................................82 Bullroarer game ........................................................................................................89 Climbing game ..........................................................................................................91 Corroboree games ..................................................................................................93 Finding-object games .............................................................................................96 Guessing games ......................................................................................................99 Hide-and-seek games ......................................................................................... 105 Hitting games ......................................................................................................... 109 Jumping games ..................................................................................................... 113 Marble games ........................................................................................................ 116 Memory game ........................................................................................................ 120 Play-language game ............................................................................................. 122 Pushing game ........................................................................................................ 123 Roller game ............................................................................................................. 125 Running games ..................................................................................................... 127 Skipping games .................................................................................................... 135 Spinner–propellor games .................................................................................. 142 String game ............................................................................................................. 145 Tag games ............................................................................................................... 146 Throwing games .................................................................................................... 160 Tracking game ........................................................................................................ 199 Water games .......................................................................................................... 201 Wrestling games ................................................................................................... 227 iv Events and activities Traditional games event .................................................................................... 243 Athletic events ....................................................................................................... 247 Displays and skills games ............................................................................... 248 Tabloid event .......................................................................................................... 250 Sports Ability .......................................................................................................... 252 Index .......................................................................................................................... 253 Wener ganbony tillutkerrin? What shall we play first? (Language of the Western people of Victoria) v Introduction Yulunga: Traditional Indigenous Games presents a selection of games and activities played in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies. Traditional pastimes have been included along with some more ‘modern’ activities. This book is based on extensive research, including several hundred accounts collected over many years from all parts of Australia and the Torres Strait Islands. Many of the original accounts